Tauhara
Suburb in Taupō District, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tauhara is a suburb and geothermal area of Taupō in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.
Tauhara | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Tauhara | |
| Coordinates: 38.684°S 176.108°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Taupō District |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Area | |
| • Land | 1,283 ha (3,170 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 4,910 |
| • Density | 383/km2 (991/sq mi) |
| Rangatira Park | Rotokawa | |
| Taupō Central |
  Tauhara  |
|
| Hilltop | Maunganamu |
The area's main geographic feature, Mount Tauhara, is culturally significant to local hapū. It is privately owned but has a public walking track and viewing areas,[3] with panoramic views over Lake Taupō,[4] The tracks were closed in 2015 due to vandalism,[5] but later reopened when the vandalism subsequently stopped.[6]
In December 2018, the Taupō District Council reduced the speed limit on the main Tauhara Road from 70 km/h to 50 km/h.[7]
Demographics
Tauhara covers 12.83 km2 (4.95 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,910 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 383 people per km2.
Tauhara had a population of 4,617 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 216 people (4.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 459 people (11.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,268 males, 2,343 females, and 6 people of other genders in 1,605 dwellings.[10] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,053 people (22.8%) aged under 15 years, 954 (20.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,046 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 564 (12.2%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 68.6% European (Pākehā); 41.1% Māori; 6.7% Pasifika; 7.5% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori by 9.4%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 7.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Religious affiliations were 24.7% Christian, 1.9% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 5.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.0%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 441 (12.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,163 (60.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 957 (26.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 207 people (5.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,986 (55.7%) full-time, 495 (13.9%) part-time, and 120 (3.4%) unemployed.[8]
Education
Tauhara Primary School is a Year 1–6 state primary school[14][15] with a roll of 257.[16] The school opened in 1959.[17]
Mountview School is a state primary school,[18] with a roll of 313.[19] The school opened in 1970. A planned 50th jubilee in 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]
Tauhara College is a state secondary school,[21][22] with a roll of 689.[23] The college opened in 1976.[24]
Lake Taupo Christian School is a Year 1–13 state integrated Christian school,[25] with a roll of 138.[26] The school opened in 1993.[27]
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of July 2026.[28]