Taupō Taupō-nui-a-Tia (Māori) | |
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.svg)  Taupō | |
| Coordinates:38°41′15″S176°04′10″E / 38.6875°S 176.0694°E /-38.6875; 176.0694 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | North Island |
| Region | Waikato |
| Territorial authority | Taupō District Council |
| Ward | Taupō General Ward |
| Settled | Pre-European |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Borough status | 1953 |
| Named after | Originates fromTaupō-nui-a-Tia, meaning "great cloak of Tia" inMāori |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Taupō | John Funnell[1] |
| • Taupō MP | Louise Upston[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 42.05 km2 (16.24 sq mi) |
| • District | 6,970 km2 (2,690 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 360 m (1,180 ft) |
| Population (June 2025)[4] | |
| • Urban | 27,000 |
| • Urban density | 640/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 3330 |
| Area code | 07 |
| Localiwi | Ngāti Tūwharetoa |
Taupō,[a] sometimes writtenTaupo, is atown located in the centralNorth Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the edge ofLake Taupō, which is the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand. Taupō was constituted as a borough in 1953.[5] It has been the seat ofTaupō District Council[6] since the council was formed in 1989.[7]
Taupō is the largest urban area of theTaupō District, and the second-largest urban area in theWaikato region, behindHamilton. It has a population of approximately 27,000 (June 2025).[4] 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 theWairakei Power Station,Huka Falls, and theTongariro National Park.
The nameTaupō is from theMāori language and is a shortened version ofTaupō-nui-a-Tia. The longer name was first given to the cliff atPākā Bay, on the eastern shore of the lake, and means the "great cloak of Tia". It was named forTia, the Māori explorer who discovered the lake. Māori later applied the name to the lake itself.[8] In 2019 the official name of the town was changed fromTaupo toTaupō.[9][10]
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.[11][12][13][14]
Approximately 700 years ago, Maori settlement of the Lake Taupō region occurred.[15] Maori settled along the Waikato River, the lake shores and on forest edges.[16] Europeans first visited Taupō around 1839.[17]
In 1868, an armed constabulary post was established in Taupō in order to strengthen communication lines in the central North Island.[18] A redoubt (or fort) was built by the armed constabulary in 1870 to guard a crossing of theWaikato river next to where it joined Lake Taupō. It was designed for up to 150 men although generally between 15 and 40 men were present during the early 1870s. This redoubt was located on the opposite bank to theNgāti Tūwharetoapā atNukuhau (now called Redoubt Street). A courthouse was built in 1881 close to the Armed Constabulary redoubt. In 1886, the armed constabulary were replace by a civil police force.[19][20]
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.[17] In the 1890s,rainbow trout were introduced to Lake Taupō and Taupō became a popular town to stay and fish.[17]
A road board was established in 1922 and it was made aborough in 1953.[18]
The control gates bridge that spans the Waikato river and link the northern and southern suburbs of the Taupō were completed in 1941. The bridge contains six control gates to adjust the flow of the Waikato River to the nine hydroelectric power stations down river of Taupo.[21][22]
Taupō grew quickly due to the development of theWairakei geothermal power station, located 7km north of Taupō, which was commissioned in 1958 and completed in 1963.[23] Also significant was expansion of the timber industry and farm development occurred between 1949 and 1953.[17]
Farming in the region was initially unsuccessful with a wasting illness which affected sheep and cattle given the name "bush sickness". Scientific study of the soil identified that there was a Cobalt deficiency in the soil. Once the soil was fertilized, farming in the region was successful.[15][24] Sheep numbers in the district increased to 138,600 with more than 20 sheep farms and 300 dairy farms established between 1947 and 1954.[16]
The population of Taupō was 753 people in 1945; 1,358 in 1951, later increasing to 2,849 people in 1956 and 5,251 people in 1961.[17]
Further geothermal power stations were built surrounding Taupo including thePoihipi power station which was completed in 1997 and purchased byContact Energy in 2000;[25]Te Mihi, completed in 2014 and theTauhara power station which was completed in 2024.[26]
Taupō is located on the northeastern shore ofLake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, which is itself in thecaldera of theTaupō Volcano. TheWaikato River drains the lake and runs through the town, separating the CBD and the northern suburbs. The river flows over theHuka Falls, a short distance north of the town, Taupō is a centre of volcanic andgeothermal activity, and hot springs suitable for bathing are located at several places in the vicinity. The volcanicMount Tauhara lies six kilometres (4 mi) to the east.[27] Taupo is 153km south west ofHamilton; 80km south ofRotorua and 50km north ofTurangi.[28]
Somewhat to the northeast are significant hot springs. These springs containextremophile micro-organisms that live in extremely hot environments.[29]
The small but growing satellite town ofKinloch, where there is a golf course designed byJack Nicklaus, is 20 kilometres west along the lake.[30][31]
Taupō suburbs include:
Taupō has anoceanic 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) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 33.2 (91.8) | 33.0 (91.4) | 28.9 (84.0) | 25.2 (77.4) | 23.0 (73.4) | 18.8 (65.8) | 17.2 (63.0) | 19.5 (67.1) | 23.8 (74.8) | 27.6 (81.7) | 32.8 (91.0) | 30.8 (87.4) | 33.2 (91.8) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.0 (80.6) | 25.1 (77.2) | 21.5 (70.7) | 18.5 (65.3) | 15.8 (60.4) | 14.4 (57.9) | 15.3 (59.5) | 18.0 (64.4) | 20.5 (68.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 25.6 (78.1) | 28.3 (82.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.0 (73.4) | 23.0 (73.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 17.4 (63.3) | 14.4 (57.9) | 11.9 (53.4) | 11.1 (52.0) | 12.0 (53.6) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 18.3 (64.9) | 20.9 (69.6) | 16.9 (62.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.3 (63.1) | 17.4 (63.3) | 15.2 (59.4) | 12.3 (54.1) | 9.8 (49.6) | 7.6 (45.7) | 6.8 (44.2) | 7.5 (45.5) | 9.2 (48.6) | 11.2 (52.2) | 13.1 (55.6) | 15.7 (60.3) | 11.9 (53.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.6 (52.9) | 11.9 (53.4) | 9.8 (49.6) | 7.2 (45.0) | 5.2 (41.4) | 3.3 (37.9) | 2.5 (36.5) | 3.0 (37.4) | 4.6 (40.3) | 6.4 (43.5) | 7.8 (46.0) | 10.6 (51.1) | 7.0 (44.6) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) | 3.5 (38.3) | 1.0 (33.8) | −1.0 (30.2) | −2.6 (27.3) | −4.1 (24.6) | −4.4 (24.1) | −4.1 (24.6) | −2.9 (26.8) | −2.1 (28.2) | −0.5 (31.1) | 2.0 (35.6) | −5.1 (22.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −1.5 (29.3) | −1.0 (30.2) | −1.5 (29.3) | −4.7 (23.5) | −5.3 (22.5) | −6.2 (20.8) | −7.1 (19.2) | −6.3 (20.7) | −5.3 (22.5) | −5.1 (22.8) | −4.2 (24.4) | −1.7 (28.9) | −7.1 (19.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 73.4 (2.89) | 64.8 (2.55) | 65.9 (2.59) | 77.3 (3.04) | 79.4 (3.13) | 93.0 (3.66) | 99.8 (3.93) | 88.6 (3.49) | 79.0 (3.11) | 74.2 (2.92) | 64.7 (2.55) | 88.0 (3.46) | 948.1 (37.32) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.9 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 11.7 | 10.8 | 10.1 | 8.7 | 9.5 | 109.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 76.9 | 78.5 | 81.1 | 83.0 | 87.1 | 88.5 | 88.6 | 86.1 | 81.4 | 80.3 | 76.4 | 77.0 | 82.1 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 224.3 | 202.6 | 179.7 | 156.3 | 126.3 | 96.1 | 116.5 | 134.6 | 140.0 | 179.6 | 190.4 | 204.6 | 1,950.9 |
| Mean dailydaylight hours | 14.5 | 13.6 | 12.3 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 9.8 | 10.7 | 11.9 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 12.1 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 50 | 53 | 47 | 47 | 41 | 34 | 34 | 41 | 39 | 44 | 45 | 45 | 43 |
| Source 1: NIWA Climate Data (sun 1981–2010)[32][33][34] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Spark[35] | |||||||||||||
Taupō is described byStatistics 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.[36] The Taupō urban area had an estimated population of 27,000 as of June 2025, with a population density of 642.09 people per km2. It is the26th-largest urban area in New Zealand, and the second-largest in the Waikato Region behindHamilton.[4]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 19,000 | — |
| 2001 | 20,400 | +1.43% |
| 2006 | 20,694 | +0.29% |
| 2013 | 21,123 | +0.29% |
| 2018 | 23,622 | +2.26% |
| 2023 | 25,374 | +1.44% |
| The 2006 population is for a larger area of 42.94 km2. Earlier figures may use different boundaries. Source:[37][38][39] | ||
Taupō had a population of 25,374 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,752 people (7.4%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 4,251 people (20.1%) since the2013 census. There were 12,429 males, 12,882 females, and 66 people ofother genders in 9,711 dwellings.[40] 2.4% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 4,695 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 4,008 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 11,103 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,571 (22.0%) aged 65 or older.[37]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 77.6%European (Pākehā); 25.6%Māori; 3.8%Pasifika; 7.8%Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori by 5.7%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 8.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[37]
Religious affiliations were 30.7%Christian, 1.8%Hindu, 0.3%Islam, 2.6%Māori religious beliefs, 0.7%Buddhist, 0.4%New Age, 0.1%Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 54.7%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.[37]
Of those at least 15 years old, 3,846 (18.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 11,934 (57.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 4,908 (23.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 2,112 people (10.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 10,380 (50.2%) full-time, 2,964 (14.3%) part-time, and 429 (2.1%) unemployed.[37]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia Bay | 7.15 | 1,770 | 248 | 702 | 52.5 years | $49,600[41] |
| Brentwood | 3.56 | 2,178 | 612 | 885 | 50.1 years | $38,700[42] |
| Nukuhau | 0.81 | 1,560 | 1,926 | 606 | 39.1 years | $42,100[43] |
| Rangatira Park | 2.04 | 1,122 | 550 | 501 | 53.3 years | $38,800[44] |
| Taupō Central West | 1.36 | 390 | 287 | 177 | 39.9 years | $43,800[45] |
| Tauhara | 1.85 | 1,689 | 913 | 579 | 32.6 years | $39,000[46] |
| Centennial | 9.86 | 87 | 9 | 30 | 41.4 years | $51,200[47] |
| Taupō Central East | 1.09 | 2,457 | 2,254 | 918 | 38.0 years | $35,900[48] |
| Mountview | 1.13 | 2,838 | 2,512 | 999 | 33.9 years | $41,500[49] |
| Bird Area | 1.18 | 2,193 | 1,858 | 897 | 45.5 years | $43,300[50] |
| Hilltop | 1.61 | 1,950 | 1,211 | 711 | 46.0 years | $40,800[51] |
| Invergarry | 0.89 | 828 | 930 | 294 | 37.5 years | $39,100[52] |
| Waipahihi | 2.47 | 2,292 | 928 | 894 | 47.2 years | $45,200[53] |
| Richmond Heights | 1.37 | 2,403 | 1,754 | 855 | 37.7 years | $44,100[54] |
| Wharewaka | 5.70 | 1,614 | 283 | 663 | 52.2 years | $40,600[55] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Taupō is a tourist centre, particularly in the summer, as it offers panoramic views over the lake and to the volcanic mountains ofTongariro National Park to the south. It offers a number of tourist activities includingsky diving,jetboating,parasailing, andbungy jumping.[56] Craters of the Moon is a geothermal valley where it is possible to see bubbling mud and steam released from underground geothermal activity.[57]
Taupō services a number of surrounding plantation pine forests including the largeKaingaroa Forest and related industry. A large sawmill is sited approximated 3 km to the north east of the town on Centennial Drive.[58]
Taupō is surrounded by seven geothermal power stations including the historicWairakei geothermal power station a few kilometres north of the town.[59]
Taupō has aMcDonald's with a decommissionedDouglas DC-3 attached to the store. The fast food outlet has seating inside the plane's structure.[60]
TheTaupō district council provides local government services for Taupō.[61] Taupō is part of theTaupō electorate and the current member of parliament (as of 2023) isLouise Upston.
The Taupō museum is located in the centre of the town on Story Place. It has displays including about theNgāti Tūwharetoa, aWharenui (Māori Meeting House) which was carved locally between 1927 and 1928, amoa skeleton and a caravan filled with local memorabilia from the late 1950s and early 1960s. There are also displays aboutvolcanos and art galleries.[63]
Regular sporting events in Taupō includeIronman New Zealand, theLake Taupō Cycle Challenge and theGreat Lake Relay (established in 1995).[64][65] The Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge has about 5,000 riders.[66] TheOxfam Trailwalker has been held in Taupō several times.[67][68] In 2006 Taupō was also the location of the off-road motorcycle eventFIM International Six Day Enduro.[69]
TheInternational Mountain Bicycling Association has designated the mountain biking trails at Bike Taupō as a silver-level IMBA Ride Center.[70] Ride Centers are the IMBA's strongest endorsement of a trail experience.[71]
Owen Delany park is a multi-purpose sports ground in Taupō. It has a capacity of 30,000 people and includes six sports fields; Cricket – four grass cricket blocks and six artificial wickets; a 400 metre athletic track; ten netball courts and a velodrome.[72]
Taupō is home to the Taupo Golf Club which has two courses: the Tauhara golf course[73] and the Centennial course. Other golf courses located near Taupō include Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, the Kinloch Club Golf Course and the Reporoa Golf Club.[74]
Taupō is home to theTaupo International Motorsport Park. It has a full international-standard racing circuit.[75]
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.[76]
Taupō has four high schools:Tauhara College,Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, Māori immersionTe Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whakarewa i Te Reo ki Tuwharetoa and state integratedLake Taupo Christian School. It also has Wairakei, St Patrick's, Waipahihi, Hilltop, Mount View, Taupō and Tauhara primary schools, andTaupo Intermediate School.
Taupō is served byState Highway 1 andState Highway 5, and is on theThermal Explorer Highway touring route. All three highways runconcurrently along the Eastern Taupō Arterial, which was built in 2010.[77]
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 beenproposals in the past.[78][79]
Taupō Airport is located south of the township. Scheduled services to Auckland and Wellington operate from the airport.[80]
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.[81] Today,Unison Networks owns and operates the electricity distribution network in Taupō.[82]
Natural gas arrived in Taupō in 1987.First Gas operates the gas distribution network in the town.[83]
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.[84]
The local newspaperTaupō Times was owned byStuff.[85] On Stuff websites the lastTaupō Times was on 28 June 2024,[86] thoughTaupō & Tūrangi News is now published independently,[87] following a buyout by its editor[88] and a further change of ownership in January 2025.[89] There is also a local radio station.[90] Digitisation of theTaupō Times from 1952 was undertaken in a partnership betweenThe Preserving Local History and Educational Trust and Taupō Museum and Art Gallery.[85]
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| Geographic | |
