Last updated October 2026
Pyes Pa is a southern suburb of Tauranga set along State Highway 36 (Pyes Pa Road), linking the city with inland routes toward Rotorua. It takes its name from Captain Charles Pye of the Colonial Defence Force cavalry during the New Zealand Wars.
The area blends established rural-residential character with newer housing developments such as The Lakes, local shopping, schools and outdoor links including a dedicated walkway network. Nearby heritage sites connected to the 1864 Tauranga campaign, notably Te Ranga, add historical depth for visitors and residents. It forms part of everyday life for people living, working and travelling through southern Tauranga.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 14,620, up 36% since 2018
- Land area
- 32.12 km²
- Location
- 12.3 km south of central Tauranga
- Council
- Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council
- Ward or local board
- Tauriko General Ward (Tauranga City Council)
- Getting there
- Main access via Pyes Pa Road (State Highway 36). Baybus Route 1 runs Tauranga City–Greerton–Pyes Pa.
- Main shopping
- Pyes Pa Shopping Centre (83 Pyes Pa Road); The Lakes Shopping Village (Caslani Lane)
- Schools
- Pyes Pā Road School (Years 1–8); ACG Tauranga also serves the wider area
- Nearby landmarks
- Te Ranga Historic Reserve / battle site; Pyes Pā Memorial Park; Pyes Pā walkway; TECT All Terrain Park (nearby)
Who Lives in Pyes Pa
About 14,620 residents in 4,960 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
In Pyes Pa
Places and businesses inside the official Pyes Pa boundary.
Places
About Pyes Pa
Pyes Pa sits in the southern part of Tauranga, centred on the corridor of Pyes Pa Road (SH36). The suburb encompasses a mix of longer-established properties, lifestyle blocks and more recent residential growth, including the master-planned The Lakes area. Its setting offers a transition between urban Tauranga and the more rural hills and valleys toward Oropi and the Kaimai ranges.
The name commemorates Captain Charles Pye (1820–1876), who served with the Colonial Defence Force cavalry in the New Zealand Wars. The wider landscape carries deeper layers of history. The battle site of Te Ranga lies on Pyes Pa Road near the corner of Joyce Road.
On 21 June 1864, British forces defeated local Māori forces there following the earlier engagement at Pukehinahina (Gate Pā). Te Ranga is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Wāhi Tapu associated with Ngāi Tamarāwaho hapū of Ngāti Ranginui iwi. A redoubt known as Pye’s Pā was later established in the area during the Tauranga Bush Campaign.
European farming families, including the Lowes who arrived after World War I, cleared land for agriculture, operated machinery and later ran a sawmill that supplied timber for major regional projects. Today the suburb supports a growing residential community with local amenities, schools and recreation while retaining open space and rural edges.
Visitors and residents experience a practical, family-oriented suburb with easy road access to central Tauranga, Greerton and further afield, plus walking and cycling connections that link neighbourhoods.
Getting Around
Pyes Pa Road (SH36) is the primary arterial, running north–south through the suburb and connecting to Takitimu Drive and the wider Tauranga network. It carries both local and through traffic toward Rotorua. Baybus Route 1 provides public transport links from Tauranga City via Greerton into Pyes Pa, with stops serving residential areas.
School transport routes also operate for students travelling to intermediate and secondary schools in the city. Newer subdivisions such as The Lakes include internal roads and paths designed for local walking and cycling.
Getting Outdoors
The Pyes Pā walkway is a 2.5 km pathway network suited to walking and cycling. It links suburbs and connects people to places they live, work, learn and play, with a typical walking time of around 30 minutes. The route forms part of wider investment in community connections.
Nearby, TECT All Terrain Park offers more extensive outdoor recreation options. Open spaces, streams such as the Kopurererua, and the peaceful grounds of Pyes Pā Memorial Park at 403 Pyes Pā Road provide quieter green settings within or adjoining the suburb.
History and Heritage
Beyond the naming after Captain Pye, the most significant heritage place is Te Ranga. The historic reserve (listed as a Wāhi Tapu) includes flat land and a gully section and can be visited. It marks the decisive 1864 engagement and remains important to Ngāi Tamarāwaho and Ngāti Ranginui.
A colonial redoubt site from the later Bush Campaign has also been recorded near Pyes Pa Road. Local pioneering stories, such as the Lowe family’s farming and sawmilling activities from the early twentieth century, illustrate the shift from bush and gorse to productive land and community industry. Pyes Pā Memorial Park serves as a modern place of remembrance for the community.
Near Pyes Pa
Just outside Pyes Pa, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia: Pyes Pa: Overview of the suburb, naming, location and historical notes citing primary context.
Heritage New Zealand: Te Ranga: Official listing details for the Wāhi Tapu battle site on Pyes Pa Road, including iwi associations and access notes.
Tauranga City Council: Pyes Pā walkway: Practical information on the 2.5 km walking and cycling pathway network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pyes Pa in Tauranga?
Pyes Pa is a suburb in the southern part of Tauranga, centred on Pyes Pa Road (State Highway 36).
How do I get to Pyes Pa?
Drive via Pyes Pa Road (SH36). Baybus Route 1 connects Tauranga City and Greerton with Pyes Pa.
What is Pyes Pa named after?
It is named for Captain Charles Pye, who served in the Colonial Defence Force cavalry during the New Zealand Wars.
Are there shops in Pyes Pa?
Yes. Pyes Pa Shopping Centre is at 83 Pyes Pa Road, and The Lakes Shopping Village on Caslani Lane serves the newer residential area with groceries, cafés and services.
What schools are in Pyes Pa?
Pyes Pā Road School caters for Years 1 to 8. ACG Tauranga is also associated with the wider Pyes Pa area.
What is Te Ranga?
Te Ranga is a historic battle site and Wāhi Tapu on Pyes Pa Road near Joyce Road, where British forces defeated local Māori forces in June 1864. It is listed by Heritage New Zealand and associated with Ngāi Tamarāwaho of Ngāti Ranginui.
Is there a walkway in Pyes Pa?
Yes. The Pyes Pā walkway is a 2.5 km network for walking and cycling that links local suburbs, with a typical walking time of about 30 minutes.
What ward is Pyes Pa in?
Pyes Pa falls within the Tauriko General Ward of Tauranga City Council.
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Explore Tauranga only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Pyes Pa is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.