Tauranga

The city lies in the north-western corner of the Bay of Plenty, on the south-eastern edge of the Tauranga Harbour. The city expands over an area of 168 square kilometres (65 sq mi), and encompases the communities of (west to east) Bethlehem, Otumoetai, Greerton, central Tauranga, Maungatapu, Welcome Bay, Mount Maunganui, Bayfair, and Papamoa .

The earliest known settlers arrived in Tauranga from the Takitimu and the Mataatua waka in the 12th century.

Tauranga is located around a large harbour that extends along the western Bay of Plenty, and is protected by Matakana Island and the extinct volcano of Mauao.

Situated along a faultline, Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty experience infrequent seismic activity, and there are a few volcanoes around the area (mainly dormant). The most notable of these are White Island and Mauao (Mount Maunganui), nicknamed “The Mount” by locals).