Region · Stats NZ · MBIE
Bay of Plenty in numbers
Bay of Plenty had an estimated 356,640 people at 30 June 2026, up 1.8% since the 2023 Census, 5th of 16 regions for growth. Rotorua district is growing fastest (+2.2%); Kawerau district has −1.3%. 30% of households rent, at a median of $650 a week.
People, June 2026
356,640
+1.8% (+6,400) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
+0.5%
+1,610 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Median weekly rent
$650
Lower quartile $550, upper $730. 24,345 active bonds. MBIE, July 2026
Median full-time earnings
$1,537 a week
June 2026, +3.8% on the year
Employment rate
65.6%
Unemployment 7.1%, participation 70.6%. Employment +2.9 pp on a year ago. 2026 Q1
Population, 1996 to 2026
Estimated resident population at 30 June, the sum of the region’s districts. Dark bars: first year, 2023 Census base, latest.
Population by year, 2019 to 2026
| 30 June | People | Change on the year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 330,840 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 340,530 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 343,720 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 344,670 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 350,240 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 354,270 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 355,030 | +0.2% |
| 2026 | 356,640 | +0.5% |
How Bay of Plenty households hold their homes
- 57% own their home
- 30% rent
- 13% held in a family trust
119,703 households, 2023 Census.
Districts in Bay of Plenty
Each district below is a Stats NZ territorial authority, grouped under its main region; the region total is their sum. Tap a name for its own page.
| District | People, June 2026 | Since 2023 Census | Latest year | Households renting | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tauranga city | 162,100 | +2% | +0.6% | 31% | $690 |
| Rotorua district | 78,300 | +2.2% | +0.8% | 35% | $593 |
| Western Bay of Plenty district | 60,100 | +2.2% | +0.3% | 24% | — |
| Whakatane district | 38,200 | +0.3% | −0.3% | 30% | — |
| Ōpōtiki district | 10,400 | +2% | +1% | 31% | — |
| Kawerau district | 7,540 | −1.3% | −1.2% | 28% | — |
Median rent is shown where MBIE publishes the district on its own; otherwise see the region figure above. Earnings and employment are regional council estimates, not district figures.