[7] The city lies in the north-western corner of the Bay of Plenty, on the south-eastern edge of Tauranga Harbour.

Tauranga is one of New Zealand's main centres for business, international trade, culture, fashion and horticultural science.

Due to its rapid population growth, Tauranga has become New Zealand's fifth-largest city, overtaking Dunedin and the Napier-Hastings urban areas.

The earliest known settlers were Māori, who arrived in the 13th century at Tauranga in the Tākitimu and the Mātaatua waka.

[10][11][12] In December 1826 and again in March 1827, the Herald travelled to Tauranga from the Bay of Islands to obtain supplies of potatoes, pigs and flax.

[13][14] In 1835 a Church Missionary Society mission station was established at Tauranga by William Wade.

[16] Europeans trading in flax were active in the Bay of Plenty during the 1830s; some were transient, others married local women and settled permanently.

The first permanent non-Maori trader was James Farrow, who travelled to Tauranga in 1829, obtaining flax fibre for Australian merchants in exchange for muskets and gunpowder.

The Māori defenders abandoned the Pā during the night with casualties estimated at 25 dead and an unknown number of wounded.

[19] In November 1916, a large fire broke out at the strand destroying 12 buildings, including the Commercial Hotel.

In August 2011, Tauranga received Ultra-Fast Broadband as part of the New Zealand Government's rollout.

[23] 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 (Mount Maunganui).

Tauranga City consists of the following suburbs, sorted by 2018 general electoral ward:[needs update]

Though in the Trewartha Climate Classification it is subtropical (cfbl)[24] During the summer months the population swells as holidaymakers descend on the city, especially along the popular white coastal surf beaches from Mount Maunganui to Papamoa.

However, the completion of a harbour bridge in 1988 brought Tauranga and The Mount closer (they amalgamated in 1989) and re-energised the economies of both parts of the enlarged city.

[43][44] However, then Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said the appointment of commissioners was unnecessary and a "dramatic and draconian step.

"[45] An independent review by law firm Russell McVeagh found that Mahuta's decision may have been unlawful.

[47] Much of the countryside surrounding Tauranga is horticultural land, used to grow a wide range of fresh produce for both domestic consumption and export.

In 2014 Tauranga City Council granted permission for an annual Sikh parade to celebrate Guru Gobind Singh's birthday.

Tauranga also has a Hockey Association,[58] separate from the Regional Bay of Plenty body, which represents the city in domestic tournaments.

It features many natural attractions and scenery ranging from popular beaches and harbour environments to lush bush-clad mountains with waterfalls and lakes.

Cultural attractions include the Tauranga Art Gallery, which opened in October 2007 and showcases local, national and international exhibitions in a range of media.

[61] Due to the temperate climate, outdoor activities are very popular, including golf, tramping (hiking), mountain biking and white water rafting.

The Bay of Plenty coastline has miles of golden sandy beaches, and watersports are very popular, including swimming, surfing, fishing, diving, kayaking and kitesurfing.

Tauranga has many outlying islands and reefs that make it a notable tourist destination point for travelling scuba divers and marine enthusiasts.

[63] It provides elective and emergency healthcare across medical, surgical, paediatric, obstetric, gynaecological and psychiatric services.

[65] Powerco operates the local distribution network in the city,[66] with electricity supplied from Transpower's national grid at three substations: Greerton, Kaitemako and Matapihi.

Their aim for the future to change current travel behaviour from a focus on private cars to more sustainable modes such as buses, cycling and walking.

Bay Hopper buses depart the central stops in Tauranga's CBD, Ohauiti, Mount Maunganui and Bayfair every 15 minutes, with the routes to Papamoa and Greerton half-hourly.