The district came into being in the local government reorganisation of 1989; with minor modifications to the boundaries, it merged the old Tauranga County and Te Puke Borough.

The most significant changes were in the northwest, with Waihi Beach being transferred to the district from the old Ohinemuri County, and near Tauranga City, where some of the hinterland, formerly in the county, was transferred to the city.

2,860 live in Waihi Beach, 5,920 in Katikati, and 10,500 in Te Puke.

The results were 80.1% European (Pākehā); 21.6% Māori; 3.4% Pasifika; 7.3% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

Of those at least 15 years old, 6,720 (14.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 25,533 (55.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 11,763 (25.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications.