About New Plymouth

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About New Plymouth District

THERE'S MORE TO NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT THAN A STUNNING LANDSCAPE

Sunlight refelcting off a snow-capped Mt Taranaki.

Stunning landscape

Situated on the west coast of the North Island, New Plymouth is a modern city with wonderful urban amenities set against the backdrop of a stunning landscape that stretches from the Tasman Sea to Mt Taranaki.

With a lifestyle shaped by that landscape, there are significant groups of fishermen, sailors, swimmers, surfers, hikers and mountain-climbers in the district.

Also rich in culture, New Plymouth is home to Puke Ariki – a ground-breaking integrated museum, library and i-SITE – the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, widely known for its cutting edge contemporary art exhibitions, and events including WOMAD (World of Music Art and Dance) and the Taranaki Arts Festival.

Geography

New Plymouth District is one of the largest districts in New Zealand and covers an area of 232,400ha (2,324.26 square kilometres), stretching from the Mohakatino River in the north to the Hangatahua (Stony) River in the south, and inland as far as Tariki.

The district includes the city of New Plymouth, the towns of Waitara, Inglewood, Urenui, Okato, Bell Block and Oakura, and many other smaller rural communities.

Getting there

New Plymouth city is about half way between Auckland and Wellington and only four and a half hours’ drive from either city.

From the New Plymouth Airport there are direct air services several times a day to Auckland and Wellington, and connecting flights to most other New Zealand cities.
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Climate

New Plymouth has a warm, moist, temperate climate.

Average summer afternoon temperatures: 21-22ºC
Average summer night-time temperatures: 12-13 ºC
Average winter afternoon temperatures: 13-14ºC
Average winter night-time temperatures: 5-6ºC
Average annual rainfall: 1,436mm.

Population

The New Plymouth District has a population of 68,901 (2006 Census) - nearly two thirds of the total population of the Taranaki region.

New Plymouth City: 45,228
Waitara: 6,288
Inglewood: 3,090
Oakura: 1,359
Okato: 531
Urenui: 429

New Plymouth District census information

History

Maori inhabited the Taranaki region from as early as 800AD. The first European settlers came to New Plymouth from Plymouth, England, on the ships William Bryan, Amelia Thompson and the Oriental in 1841 and New Plymouth became one of the first formal settlements in New Zealand. European settlement expanded along the coast and inland into what is now New Plymouth District and Taranaki.
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Iwi

The boundaries of New Plymouth District cross the rohe (boundaries) of six iwi (Maori tribes). These iwi reached New Zealand on a number of waka (traditional boats), with the last migrations arriving in the Tainui, Tokomaru and Kurahaupo waka. Starting in the north, the iwi are Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Tama, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Maru, Te Ati Awa and Taranaki. There are also other territorial authorities within the rohe of some of these iwi.

Economy

The local economy is based mainly on agriculture, particularly the dairy industry, with other significant industries including horticulture, heavy and light engineering, manufacturing and tourism.

Energy and related industries are also important – onshore oil was discovered as early as 1865 from the Alpha well in the New Plymouth suburb of Moturoa, and in the late 1970s the offshore Maui A well began production of natural gas. All this encouraged overseas investment and a flourishing energy and petrochemical industry developed. As Maui A’s resources decline, new sites in Taranaki are being developed in an effort to find more commercial petrochemical reserves.

In Taranaki new industries are also being developed, in particular boat building and film making.

For more detailed information about the economy see the Taranaki Economic report on the Taranaki Info website.

About New Plymouth