Taupō (Māori pronunciation: [ˈtaʉpɔː]), sometimes written Taupo, is a town located in the central North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the edge of Lake Taupō, which is the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand. Taupō was constituted as a borough in 1953.[2] It has been the seat of Taupō District Council since the council was formed in 1989.[citation needed]
Taupō is the largest urban area of the Taupō District, and the second-largest urban area in the Waikato region, behind Hamilton. It has a population of approximately 27,000 (June 2024).[1] Taupō is known for its natural beauty, with the surrounding area offering a range of outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, skiing, and water sports. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of attractions, including the Wairakei Power Station, Huka Falls, and the Tongariro National Park.
Naming
The name Taupō is from the Māori language and is a shortened version of Taupō-nui-a-Tia. The longer name was first given to the cliff at Pākā Bay, on the eastern shore of the lake, and means the "great cloak of Tia". It was named for Tia, the Māori explorer who discovered the lake. Māori later applied the name to the lake itself.[3] In 2019 the official name of the town was changed from Taupo to Taupō.[4][5]
Although the English pronunciation "tow-po" (/ˈtaʊpoʊ/, NZE/ˈtæʊpaʉ/) is widespread, it is often regarded as incorrect, and the Māori pronunciation, "toe-paw" (/ˈtoʊpɔː/, NZE /ˈtaʉpoː/) is generally preferred in formal use.[6][7][8][9]
History
In 1868, an armed constabulary post was established in Taupō in order to strengthen communication lines in the central North Island.[10] Hot water pools around Taupō began to attract tourists to Taupō in the late 1870s and early 1880s and hotels were developed to take advantage of this.[11] In the 1890s, rainbow trout were introduced to Lake Taupō and Taupō became a popular town to stay and fish.[11]
A road board was established in 1922 and it was made a borough in 1953.[10] Taupō grew quickly due to the development of the Wairakei geothermal power station, expansion of the timber industry, and farm development between 1949 and 1953. The population of Taupō was 1,358 in 1951, later increasing to 2,849 people in 1956 and 5,251 people in 1961.[11]
Geographical features
Taupō is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, which is itself in the caldera of the Taupō Volcano. The Waikato River drains the lake and runs through the town, separating the CBD and the northern suburbs. The river flows over the spectacular Huka Falls, a short distance north of the town, Taupō is a centre of volcanic and geothermal activity, and hot springs suitable for bathing are located at several places in the vicinity. The volcanic Mount Tauhara lies six kilometres (4 mi) to the east.[citation needed]
Somewhat to the northeast are significant hot springs. These springs contain extremophile micro-organisms that live in extremely hot environments.[12]
The small but growing satellite town of Kinloch, where there is a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, is 20 kilometres west along the lake.[13][14]
View of snow-capped mountains shrouded in cloud, Taupō
Suburbs
Taupō suburbs include:
Wharewaka – has a popular swimming spot for locals and a growing new subdivision along with a large retirement village.
Nukuhau – lies north of the Waikato River. To the south-west lies Acacia Bay and to the south lies Taupō town centre.
Richmond Heights – lies to the east of Rainbow Point and south of Mountain View. It is home to the Richmond Heights shopping centre.
Waipahihi – lies to the north of Richmond Heights. It is home to the Waipahihi Primary School, and the Waipahihi Botanical Gardens.
Rainbow Point – lies north of Wharewaka and west of Richmond Heights. To the west lies Lake Taupō.
Tauhara – lies just north of Hilltop and east of Mount View. Mount Tauhara lies just east of Tauhara. Tauhara is the location of Tauhara primary school, Tauhara College and Tauhara Golf course.
Five Mile Bay – is located on the east side of Lake Taupō, south of Wharewaka and north of Waitahanui on State Highway 1 just west of Taupō Airport. It is a popular swimming/water skiing beach that is very busy in summer. Five Mile Bay is one of three similar named bays along the lake shoreline, the others being Two Mile Bay and Three Mile Bay.
Wairakei – is a small settlement, and geothermal area 8-kilometres north of Taupō.
Waitahanui – is a village on the eastern shore of Lake Taupō.
Climate
Taupō has an oceanic climate (Cfb). The town is located inland, which results in the accumulation of dry air causing severe frost during winter. However snowfall in Taupō is rare. The summer climate in Taupō is mild with maximum average temperature reaching 23 degrees and a minimum average temperature of 10 degrees.
Climate data for Taupō (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1949–present)
Source: NIWA Climate Data (sun 1981–2010)[15][16][17]
Demographics
Taupō is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area and covers 42.05 km2 (16.24 sq mi), which stretches from Acacia Bay in the west to Centennial Park in the east and to Taupō Airport in the south.[18] The Taupō urban area had an estimated population of 27,000 as of June 2024, with a population density of 642.09 people per km2. It is the 26th-largest urban area in New Zealand, and the second-largest in the Waikato Region behind Hamilton.[1]
Before the 2023 census, the town had a larger boundary, covering 42.94 km2 (16.58 sq mi).[18] Using that boundary, the Taupō urban area had a population of 23,631 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,508 people (11.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,937 people (14.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 9,000 households, comprising 11,520 males and 12,096 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 4,740 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 3,849 (16.3%) aged 15 to 29, 10,164 (43.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 4,875 (20.6%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 79.8% European/Pākehā, 24.5% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 5.7% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.7% had no religion, 34.9% were Christian, 2.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 2,991 (15.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3,510 (18.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 2,835 people (15.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 9,246 (48.9%) people were employed full-time, 3,003 (15.9%) were part-time, and 507 (2.7%) were unemployed.[19]
Individual statistical areas in Taupō (2018 census)[21]
Taupō services a number of surrounding plantation pine forests including the large Kaingaroa Forest and related industry. A large sawmill is sited approximated 3 km to the north east of the town on Centennial Drive.[citation needed]
The Taupō museum is located in the centre of the town on Story Place. It has displays including about the Ngāti Tūwharetoa, a Wharenui (Māori Meeting House) which was carved locally between 1927 and 1928, a moa skeleton and a caravan filled with local memorabilia from the late 1950s and early 1960s. There are also displays about volcanos and art galleries.[25]
The International Mountain Bicycling Association has designated the mountain biking trails at Bike Taupō as a silver-level IMBA Ride Center.[31] Ride Centers are the IMBA's strongest endorsement of a trail experience.[32]
Golf
Taupō is home to the Taupo Golf Club which has two courses: the Tauhara golf course[33] and the Centennial course. Other golf courses located near Taupō include Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, the Kinloch Club Golf Course and the Reporoa Golf Club.[34]
The AC Baths is a swimming pool complex located at 26 AC Baths Avenue. Facilities include two 25-metre lane pools, an outdoor leisure pool with two toddler areas, a sauna, two hydroslides and four private thermal mineral pools.[36]
One of the main streets of the Taupō CBD, with the Taupo Domain on the left
Taupō is one of the few large towns in New Zealand that have never had a link to the national rail network, although there have been proposals in the past.[citation needed]
Taupō Airport is located south of the township. Scheduled services to Auckland and Wellington operate from the airport.[38]
Utilities
Taupō first received a public electricity supply in 1952, with the commissioning of the Hinemaiaia A hydroelectric power station south of the town. The town was connected to the national grid in 1958, coinciding with the commissioning of Wairakei geothermal power station north of the town.[39] Today, Unison Networks owns and operates the electricity distribution network in Taupō.[40]
Natural gas arrived in Taupō in 1987. First Gas operates the gas distribution network in the town.[41]
Taupō's fresh water supply is drawn from Lake Taupō. Prior to 2013, there were two separate fresh water systems serving the town: the Lake Terrace system serving the town north of Napier Road, and the Rainbow Point system serving the southern suburbs. In 2013, the Lake Terrace treatment plant was upgraded and the two systems were amalgamated. Acacia Bay has its own dedicated fresh water system.[42]
^ ab"Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Acacia Bay (188300), Brentwood (Taupo District) (188400), Nukuhau-Rangatira Park (188500), Taupo Central West (188600), Tauhara (188700), Taupo Central East (188800), Mountview (188900), Bird Area (189000), Hilltop (Taupo District) (189100), Waipahihi (189200), Richmond Heights (189300) and Wharewaka (189400).
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