Last updated October 2026
Te Puke sits about 18 kilometres southeast of Tauranga in the Western Bay of Plenty, on a rise near the Pāpāmoa Hills.
The name means “the hill” in te reo Māori, and the town is widely known as the kiwifruit capital of the world. It serves as the main service centre for the eastern part of the Western Bay of Plenty District, with a busy main street, strong horticultural economy, and a diverse community.
Visitors and people considering a move find a practical rural town with easy links to the coast at Maketū and to Tauranga via the Tauranga Eastern Link. Amenities include a library and service centre, memorial hall, swimming pool, and Jubilee Park in the town centre.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 11,220, up 6% since 2018
- Land area
- 117.19 km²
- Location
- 17.5 km south-east of central Tauranga
- Council
- Western Bay of Plenty District Council
- Ward or local board
- Maketu-Te Puke Ward (Western Bay of Plenty District)
- Getting there
- Main access via Te Puke Highway and local roads off the Tauranga Eastern Link (State Highway 2 corridor). Baybus route 20 links Te Puke with Bayfair. School and private bus services also operate in the area.
- Main shopping
- Jellicoe Street (main shopping street through the town centre)
- Schools
- Te Puke High School; Te Puke Intermediate; Fairhaven School; Te Puke Primary School; Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Matai
- Nearby landmarks
- Giant kiwifruit sculpture; Jubilee Park; Te Puke Memorial Hall; Maketū and the coast; Pāpāmoa Hills area
Who Lives in Te Puke
About 11,220 residents in 3,590 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
About Te Puke
Te Puke is the principal service town for the eastern Western Bay of Plenty. It sits inland from Maketū and the coast, with fertile soils and a warm, moist climate that support intensive horticulture.
The town markets itself as the kiwifruit capital of the world; orchards of green and gold kiwifruit, avocados, citrus and other crops surround the settlement and shape daily life and seasonal work.
Tangata whenua of the eastern region are primarily of Te Arawa. Resident iwi include Tapuika and Waitaha. Several marae serve the area, including Haraki and Manoeka (Hei) affiliated with Waitaha, and Makahae (Te Kahika), Moko (Ngāti Moko) and Tawakepito affiliated with Tapuika hapū.
The name is linked in local tradition to Hei of the Te Arawa waka, who named a hill visible from the sea Te Puke-o-Tawa (the hill of Tawa); the wider block later took the name Te Puke.
European settlement was organised from the 1880s under schemes associated with George Vesey Stewart. Early industries included flax milling, sawmilling and dairying. Chinese gooseberry plantings in the mid-twentieth century grew into the modern kiwifruit industry, with the first commercial exports and the adoption of the name “kiwifruit” following in the 1950s.
The East Coast Main Trunk railway reached the town in 1928. More recently the Tauranga Eastern Link shifted through-traffic away from the town centre, easing congestion on local streets.
Today Te Puke has a multicultural population and a practical town-centre focus along Jellicoe Street. Council amenities include the library and service centre, Memorial Hall and Memorial Swimming Pool. Jubilee Park provides a central green space recognised for its quality.
Smaller nearby communities such as Waitangi, Rangiuru and Manoeka form part of the wider Te Puke area. Growth is being guided by spatial planning that aims to balance housing, work, green space and infrastructure.
History and Heritage
The Te Arawa canoe is traditionally associated with landfall at Maketū. Tapuika and Waitaha hold long-standing connections to the land around Te Puke and the coast. Later history includes flax milling from the 1870s, gold prospecting on the Pāpāmoa Hills, railway construction and a public works quarry, and the shift into commercial orcharding.
Chinese gooseberry plantings by local growers, including early work on No. 3 Road, underpinned the industry that now defines the town’s identity. Heritage places in the wider area include pā sites such as Maungaruahine Pā Historic Reserve on No. 3 Road, returned to Waitaha-a-Hei and subject to restoration work.
Getting Around
Most people arrive by car via Te Puke Highway and connections from the Tauranga Eastern Link. Baybus route 20 provides a public link between Te Puke and Bayfair, connecting into the wider Tauranga network. School buses serve local schools and some Tauranga destinations.
The town centre is compact enough for short walks along Jellicoe Street and to nearby parks and facilities. Cycling and walking are practical for local trips, though rural roads around the orchards carry seasonal traffic.
Community Facilities
Te Puke Library and Service Centre at 130 Jellicoe Street offers books, free Wi-Fi, computers, council services and community events. Te Puke Memorial Hall on the main street provides a large auditorium and meeting spaces for events of many sizes.
The Memorial Swimming Pool, at Te Puke High School (corner of Tui Street and Beatty Avenue), is open for public swimming in season. Jubilee Park is a central park that has received Green Flag recognition for standards of care and community use. These facilities sit alongside schools, clubs and marae that anchor local life.
Near Te Puke
Just outside Te Puke, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Where to Learn More
Western Bay of Plenty District Council – Te Puke: Official overview of the town, iwi context, amenities and council services.
Wikipedia – Te Puke: Summary of location, history, marae, economy, education and climate with cited sources.
Taonga Tū Heritage Bay of Plenty – Te Puke: Local heritage notes on name origins, flax milling and the rise of the kiwifruit industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Te Puke in relation to Tauranga?
Te Puke is about 18 kilometres southeast of Tauranga in the Western Bay of Plenty District. It is reached via Te Puke Highway and links from the Tauranga Eastern Link.
Why is Te Puke called the kiwifruit capital of the world?
The surrounding district has long been a major centre of commercial kiwifruit growing. Early Chinese gooseberry plantings here helped establish the industry, and the town continues to market itself under that title.
What does the name Te Puke mean?
In te reo Māori, Te Puke means “the hill”. Local tradition also links the name to Hei of the Te Arawa waka and a hill known as Te Puke-o-Tawa.
Which iwi are associated with Te Puke?
Tangata whenua connections are primarily with Te Arawa. Resident iwi include Tapuika and Waitaha, with several marae in and around the town.
What is the main shopping area?
Jellicoe Street is the main shopping street running through the town centre, with local businesses and services.
How do I get to Te Puke by public transport?
Baybus route 20 runs between Te Puke and Bayfair. Check baybus.co.nz or the Transit app for current timetables. Most visitors arrive by car.
What schools are in Te Puke?
Schools include Te Puke High School, Te Puke Intermediate, Fairhaven School, Te Puke Primary School, and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Matai.
What facilities does the town offer?
Key public facilities include Te Puke Library and Service Centre on Jellicoe Street, Te Puke Memorial Hall, the Memorial Swimming Pool, and Jubilee Park in the town centre.
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Explore Tauranga only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Te Puke is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.