Welcome Bay is a suburb of Tauranga, New Zealand. It is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from central Tauranga. Neighbouring suburbs include Hairini and Maungatapu. There are a number of schools in Welcome Bay, including three primary schools.[3]

Welcome Bay
Welcome Bay viewed from Maungatapu
Welcome Bay viewed from Maungatapu
Map
Coordinates: 37°43′47″S 176°11′15″E / 37.72972°S 176.18750°E / -37.72972; 176.18750
CountryNew Zealand
CityTauranga
Local authorityTauranga City Council
Electoral wardWelcome Bay General Ward
Area
 • Land1,165 ha (2,879 acres)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
11,700
(Waimapu Estuary) (Tauranga Harbour) Maungatapu
Poike
Welcome Bay
Welcome Bay
Oropi Ohauiti

The name Welcome Bay has been used for the area as early as 1872 by the Bay of Plenty Times.

Demographics

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Welcome Bay covers 11.65 km2 (4.50 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 11,700 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 1,004 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20067,527—    
20138,667+2.04%
201810,284+3.48%
Source: [4]

Welcome Bay had a population of 10,284 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,617 people (18.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,757 people (36.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,372 households, comprising 5,088 males and 5,199 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 2,493 people (24.2%) aged under 15 years, 1,833 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 4,656 (45.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,308 (12.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 80.1% European/Pākehā, 22.5% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 6.6% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 21.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.4% had no religion, 32.2% were Christian, 2.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,521 (19.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,203 (15.4%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,194 people (15.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 4,035 (51.8%) people were employed full-time, 1,260 (16.2%) were part-time, and 330 (4.2%) were unemployed.[4]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)
Population Density
(per km2)
Households Median age Median
income
Kaitemako (Tauranga City) 3.74 1,497 400 504 39.0 years $32,600[5]
Welcome Bay West 1.11 2,781 2,505 912 32.6 years $32,800[6]
Welcome Bay East 3.69 2,556 693 849 37.6 years $28,600[7]
Welcome Bay South 3.11 3,450 1,109 1,107 35.4 years $37,000[8]
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Marae

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The local Tahuwhakatiki or Romai Marae and its Rongomainohorangi meeting house are a traditional meeting place for the Ngāti Ranginui hapū of Pirirākau.[9][10]

In October 2020, the Government committed $500,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating 6 jobs.[11]

Climate

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Welcome Bay is a sub-tropical climate zone, with warm humid summers and mild winters. Typical summer daytime maximum air temperatures range from 22°C to 26°C, but seldom exceed 30°C. Winter daytime maximum air temperatures range from 12°C to 17°C. Annual sunshine hours average least 2200 hours. Southwest winds prevail for much of the year. Sea breezes often occur on warm summer days. Winter usually has more rain and is the most unsettled time of year. In summer and autumn, storms of tropical origin may bring high winds and heavy rainfall from the east or northeast.[12]

Transport

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Public transport in Welcome Bay solely consists of bus services. The suburb is served by one 'Bay Hopper' routes; Route 40(City - 15th Ave - Welcome Bay).[13]

Education

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Welcome Bay has two co-educational state primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Welcome Bay School,[14][15] with a roll of 293,[16] and Selwyn Ridge School,[17][18] with a roll of 476.[19]

Tauranga Waldorf School is a co-educational state-integrated primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[20] with a roll of 209.[21]

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou is a co-educational Māori language immersion school for Year 1 to 8 students,[22][23] with a roll of 88.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Welcome Bay, Tauranga". www.qv.co.nz. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaitemako (Tauranga City) (196300), Welcome Bay West (196600), Welcome Bay East (196700) and Welcome Bay South (196900).
  5. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Kaitemako (Tauranga City)
  6. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Welcome Bay West
  7. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Welcome Bay East
  8. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Welcome Bay South
  9. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  10. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  11. ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Climate". niwa.co.nz. NIWA. October 2017.
  13. ^ "City 15th Ave Welcome Bay". baybus.co.nz. Bay Bus.
  14. ^ "Welcome Bay School Official School Website". welcomebay.school.nz.
  15. ^ "Welcome Bay School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  16. ^ "Welcome Bay School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  17. ^ "Selwyn Ridge School Official School Website". selwynridge.school.nz.
  18. ^ "Selwyn Ridge School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  19. ^ "Selwyn Ridge School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  20. ^ "Rudolf Steiner School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  21. ^ "Rudolf Steiner School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  22. ^ "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou Official School Website". otepou.school.nz.
  23. ^ "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  24. ^ "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.