Prior to the mid 1990s however, many New Zealanders considered Tauranga to be nothing more than a holiday hot spot and retirement town. It was a place for people from the likes of Auckland and Hamilton to visit, unwind and work on the tan. Eventually, they all returned to their day jobs and fast-paced lifestyles.How quickly things changed. The mid 1990s saw many out of town folk, particularly retired farmers, tapping into the Tauranga real estate market, spotting bargain beach houses and baches in Mount Maunganui. It was during this time that you could pick up a full section and home on the Mount’s iconic Marine Parade, which runs parallel right across from the beach for as little as $250,000. Today you’ll be hard pressed to find a half section home along here for under $800,000.
Quickly things started to establish themselves with job prospects increasing on the back of the flourishing Port of Tauranga. With volumes of logs, kiwifruit and avocado exported through the port company increasing at an electric rate, the town made a sudden transition to a city. Dozens of new complementary businesses opened their doors, plus many head offices in Auckland and Hamilton relocated to the area.
Tauranga’s Port of Tauranga is responsible for turning the seaside holiday resort into the lifestyle capital of New Zealand.
In 1996 Tauranga’s population stood at just over 82,000 and just 10 years later it reached 103,635, confirming itself as the country’s fastest growing city during this time. By the year 2021 Tauranga’s population is expected to reach 141,000.
Mount Maunganui beaches are at the forefront of lifestyle enjoyment in the area and are renowned throughout parts of the world for having fantastic and safe surf and swimming conditions.
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Mount Maunganui beaches have always pulled the crowds
The likes of lodge accommodation in Tauranga, rental car companies, real estate, tourism and hospitality, engineering, health, retail trade businesses and Tauranga building companies are just a few basking in the success of the city.
Today more and more people are heading to sunny Tauranga to enjoy the luxuries of being able to work and play in what continues to be one of the most popular holiday destinations in New Zealand.