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 Mount Taranaki.
New Plymouth lies about half way between Auckland and Wellington and is four and a half hours drive from either city.
Māori inhabited the Taranaki region from as early as 800AD. The first European settlers came to New Plymouth from Plymouth, England, 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.
The boundaries of New Plymouth District cross the boundaries of six Māori tribes. These tribes reached New Zealand on a number of traditional boats. Starting in the north, the tribes are Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Tama, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Maru, Te Ati Awa and Taranaki.
The region is a destination for surfers the world over who hit the classic waves around Surf Highway 45, and make the most of the local geography - it's one of the few places in the world where you can ski and surf in the same day.
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. New industries are also being developed, in particular boat building and film making.
Population
The Taranaki region is home to more than 107,500 residents divided among three districts: New Plymouth District, Stratford District and South Taranaki District. The New Plymouth District has a population of nearly 71,800 - over two thirds of the total population of the Taranaki region.
Climate
New Plymouth has a warm, moist, temperate climate averaging summer highs of 21-22°C and winter lows of 5-6°C. It also has an average annual rainfall of 1,436mm and around 2,200 hours of sunshine a year. In winter, the snow-covered peaks of Mount Taranaki attract skiers and snowboarders while in the summer months the mountain is popular with rock climbers and hikers.
