Taupō Central
Central business district of Taupō, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taupō Central is the central suburb and business district of Taupō in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.[3]
Taupō Central | |
|---|---|
Lake Terrace | |
 Interactive map of Taupō Central | |
| Coordinates: 38.687533°S 176.069315°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Taupō |
| Local authority | Taupō District Council |
| Electoral ward | Taupō General Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 245 ha (610 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 3,020 |
| • Density | 1,230/km2 (3,190/sq mi) |
| Rangatira Park | Rotokawa | |
| Nukuhau |
  Taupō Central  |
Tauhara |
| Acacia Bay | (Lake Taupō) | Hilltop |
An eight-storey hotel was proposed in the CBD in 2018. It would have been Taupō's tallest building.[4] As the council had a three-storey limit at that time, consent required a decision by the Environment Court, which allowed a six-storey building in June 2020.[5] The hotel was still unbuilt as of May 2022.[6]
Taupō Museum is located in Taupō Central.[7][8] It opened in the 1970s.[9]
Demographics
Taupō Central covers 2.45 km2 (0.95 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,020 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,233 people per km2.
Taupō Centre had a population of 2,850 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (0.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 216 people (8.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,425 males, 1,410 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,095 dwellings.[12] 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 492 people (17.3%) aged under 15 years, 552 (19.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,248 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 555 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.[10]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 61.2% European (Pākehā); 33.8% Māori; 6.2% Pasifika; 15.3% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.6%, Māori by 8.9%, Samoan by 1.2%, and other languages by 12.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 25.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[10]
Religious affiliations were 32.7% Christian, 3.6% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 2.8% Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 2.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 49.4%, and 6.7% of people did not answer the census question.[10]
Of those at least 15 years old, 372 (15.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,278 (54.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 705 (29.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 129 people (5.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,227 (52.0%) full-time, 294 (12.5%) part-time, and 54 (2.3%) unemployed.[10]
Education
Taupo School is a state primary school,[15][16] with a roll of 472.[17] The school opened in 1894.[18]
Taupo-nui-a-Tia College is a state secondary school,[19][20] with a roll of 1,167.[21] The college opened in 1960, replacing the Taupo District High School which operated from 1951 to 1959.[22]
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa I Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa is a composite (Year 1–13) Māori immersion school,[23] with a roll of 159.[24]
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of October 2025.[25]