Taupō, sometimes written as Taupo, is a town located in the central North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the north-eastern edge of Lake Taupō, which is the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand. Taupō was constituted as a borough in 1953. It has been the seat of Taupō District Council since the council was formed in 1989.
Taupō is the largest urban area in the Taupō District, and the second-largest in the Waikato region, behind Hamilton. It has a population of approximately 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. In 2019 the official name of the town was changed from Taupo to Taupō.
Although the English pronunciation "tow-po" (, NZE ) is widespread, it is often regarded as incorrect, and the Māori pronunciation, "toe-paw" (, NZE ) is generally preferred in formal use.
History Approximately 700 years ago, Maori settlement of the Lake Taupō region occurred. Maori settled along the Waikato River, the lake shores and on forest edges. Europeans first visited Taupō around 1839.
In 1868, an armed constabulary post was established in Taupō in order to strengthen communication lines in the central North Island. A redoubt (or fort) was built by the armed constabulary in 1870 to guard a crossing of the Waikato 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 the Ngāti Tūwharetoa pā at Nukuhau (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.
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. In the 1890s, rainbow trout were introduced to Lake Taupō and Taupō became a popular town to stay and fish.
A road board was established in 1922 and it was made a borough in 1953.
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.
Taupō grew quickly due to the development of the Wairakei geothermal power station, located 7km north of Taupō, which was commissioned in 1958 and completed in 1963. Also significant was expansion of the timber industry and farm development occurred between 1949 and 1953.
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. Sheep numbers in the district increased to 138,600 with more than 20 sheep farms and 300 dairy farms established between 1947 and 1954.
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.
Further geothermal power stations were built surrounding Taupo including the Poihipi power station which was completed in 1997 and purchased by Contact Energy in 2000; Te Mihi, completed in 2014 and the Tauhara power station which was completed in 2024.
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 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. Taupo is 153km south west of Hamilton; 80km south of Rotorua and 50km north of Turangi.
Somewhat to the northeast are significant hot springs. These springs contain extremophile micro-organisms that live in extremely hot environments.
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.
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. Mount View – lies north of the Taupō CBD Acacia Bay – lies west of Tapuaeharuru Bay 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. Hilltop – lies south of Tauhara. Hilltop is the location of Hilltop School, Taupo Intermediate School, Taupō Hospital, Taharepa shopping centre and Hilltop shopping centre. Taupō CBD Outer suburbs 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.
Demographics Taupō is described by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area and covers , which stretches from Acacia Bay in the west to Centennial Park in the east and to Taupō Airport in the south. The Taupō urban area had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is the 26th-largest urban area in New Zealand, and the second-largest in the Waikato Region behind Hamilton.
Taupō had a population of 25,374 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,752 people (7.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 4,251 people (20.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 12,429 males, 12,882 females, and 66 people of other genders in 9,711 dwellings. 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. 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.
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.
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 had no religion were 54.7%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.
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.
+Individual statistical areasName Area(km2) Population Density(per km2) Dwellings Median age Medianincome Acacia Bay 7.15 1,770 248 702 52.5 years $49,600 Brentwood 3.56 2,178 612 885 50.1 years $38,700 Nukuhau 0.81 1,560 1,926 606 39.1 years $42,100 Rangatira Park 2.04 1,122 550 501 53.3 years $38,800 Taupō Central West 1.36 390 287 177 39.9 years $43,800 Tauhara 1.85 1,689 913 579 32.6 years $39,000 Centennial 9.86 87 9 30 41.4 years $51,200 Taupō Central East 1.09 2,457 2,254 918 38.0 years $35,900 Mountview 1.13 2,838 2,512 999 33.9 years $41,500 Bird Area 1.18 2,193 1,858 897 45.5 years $43,300 Hilltop 1.61 1,950 1,211 711 46.0 years $40,800 Invergarry 0.89 828 930 294 37.5 years $39,100 Waipahihi 2.47 2,292 928 894 47.2 years $45,200 Richmond Heights 1.37 2,403 1,754 855 37.7 years $44,100 Wharewaka 5.70 1,614 283 663 52.2 years $40,600 New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500
Economy
Taupō is a tourist centre, particularly in the summer, as it offers panoramic views over the lake and to the volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park to the south. It offers a number of tourist activities including sky diving, jetboating, parasailing, and bungy jumping. Craters of the Moon is a geothermal valley where it is possible to see bubbling mud and steam released from underground geothermal activity.
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.
Taupō is surrounded by seven geothermal power stations including the historic Wairakei geothermal power station a few kilometres north of the town.
Taupō has a McDonald's with a decommissioned Douglas DC-3 attached to the store. The fast food outlet has seating inside the plane's structure.
Governance The Taupō district council provides local government services for Taupō. Taupō is part of the Taupō electorate and the current member of parliament (as of 2023) is Louise Upston.
Museum 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.
Sports and recreation Regular sporting events in Taupō include Ironman New Zealand, the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge and the Great Lake Relay (established in 1995). The Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge has about 5,000 riders. The Oxfam Trailwalker has been held in Taupō several times. In 2006 Taupō was also the location of the off-road motorcycle event FIM International Six Day Enduro.
Mountain biking