Working and Networking
- Networking Events
- Priority One business events and 'Tech on Tap' meetups in nearby Tauranga
- Social Events for Expats
- Mount Maunganui Community Facebook group and the 'Little Big Markets' social days
- Best Coworking Space
- Basestation (Tauranga CBD - 15 min drive) or Bloom Collective (Mount Maunganui)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Tay Street Beach Cafe (Pāpāmoa end) or Folk Coffee (Maunganui Road) - very laptop friendly
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber is active; also local 'NZ Cabs' and 'Mount Taxis'
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beam (electric scooters) and local shops like 'The Mount Surf Shop' for bike rentals
- Best Beach Nearby
- Mount Maunganui Main Beach (voted NZ's best beach) and Pilot Bay for calm water
- Top Regional Airline
- Air New Zealand (Tauranga Airport TRG is 10 mins away)
- Top International Airline
- Air New Zealand, Qantas, and Emirates (via Auckland International, 2.5 hours drive)
- Highway Access
- State Highway 2 (North to Auckland) and State Highway 29 (South/West)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tauranga City Interchange (Durham Street) for regional buses (InterCity); no passenger rail
- Public Transport Passes
- Bee Card (rechargeable smart card for BayBus services)
- Regional Travel
- InterCity bus to Auckland or Rotorua; Ferry between Salisbury Wharf and Tauranga Waterfront
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Tauranga Hospital (Cameron Road, 15 min drive); Mount Medical Centre for GP needs
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Collective (Marine Parade) and Mount Yoga (Totara St)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Mount Crossfit, Oceanview Gym, and The Gym Kapuna
- Laundry Services
- Liquid Self Service Laundromat (716 Maunganui Rd)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Delivereasy
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fresh Grilled Snapper/Fish and Chips from Bobby's Fresh Fish Market (Tauranga side)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wild One Wholefoods Eatery and George Cafe
- Best Dessert Spots
- Copenhagen Cones (famous for handmade waffle cones at the base of the Mount)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Bayfair Shopping Centre and PAK'nSAVE Papamoa (best prices)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mighty Ape (electronics/toys) and Trade Me (local eBay equivalent)
- Grocery Delivery
- Countdown (Woolworths NZ) and New World online shopping
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Maunganui Road 'The Strip' - specifically Vaudeville and Astrolabe Brew Bar
- Local Brewery
- Mount Brewing Co. (Rising Tide Brewhouse on Totara St)
- Wine Bars
- Solera (Maunganui Rd) specializing in NZ wines and shared plates
- Street Food Stalls
- Dinner in the Domain (Papamoa) and Gourmet Night Market (Coronation Park) in summer
- Popular International Cuisine
- Rice Rice Baby (Vietnamese) and Roxie's Red Hot Cantina (Mexican)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Mauao (The Mount Summit hike); Leisure Island (Moturiki)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tauranga Art Gallery and Classic Flyers Aviation Museum
- Historical Sites
- The Elms (Te Papa Mission Station) in Tauranga; Monmouth Redoubt
- Religious Sites
- St Peter's Anglican Church; various modern community churches
- Annual Events
- National Jazz Festival (Easter), One Love Festival (Reggae), and The Little Big Markets
- Cultural Districts
- Wharf Street (Tauranga CBD dining) and the Mount Downtown shopping precinct
- Theater Venues
- Baycourt Community and Arts Centre (Tauranga)
- Local Markets
- Mount Farmers Market (Sundays in the Phoenix Carpark)
- Music Scene
- Totara Street (major live music venue) and specialized DJ sets at Astrolabe
- Street Art
- Various murals around the Tauranga CBD and Maunganui Rd back alleys
- Cooking Classes
- The Whipped Baker (intermittent workshops) and specialized classes at Main Course
- Art Galleries
- Arataki Art and various independent boutique galleries on Maunganui Rd
- Historic Buildings
- Brain Watkins House; Oceanic Hotel site
- Local Heritage
- Strong Māori heritage (Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui iwi)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- McLaren Falls Park (25 min drive); Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Te Urewera (longest hike access); Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Mauao Base Track (45 mins); Waikareao Estuary Loop (Tauranga)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mauao Summit (232m) - 360 degree views of the Pacific and Bay of Plenty
- Birdwatching Locations
- Tuhua (Mayor Island) marine reserve; Matakana Island
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited due to fire risk; use public BBQ facilities at Pilot Bay
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- NZ Post, Aramex, and CourierPost
- Tech Repair Services
- Fonefix and Noel Leeming Tech Solutions (Bayfair)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Tauranga Table Tennis Club (Memorial Park)
- Language Classes
- Bay of Plenty English Language School (Tauranga CBD)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Mount Maunganui Library (Maunganui Road)
- Community Centers
- Mount Maunganui Community Hall
- Gaming Lounges
- The Cave (Virtual Reality gaming center)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- SkyCity Auckland (none local) - local venues only have TAB/Pokies
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $14,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $490,000 NZD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $9,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $315,000 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $13,500 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $742,500 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $467,500 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $12,000 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = $1,020,000 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,000 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = $680,000 NZD)
- Corporate Tax
- 28%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 33% (resident) or 15-30% (non-resident depending on treaty)
- Tax System
- Comprehensive worldwide income for tax residents (183-day rule)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 39% (for income over $180,000 NZD)
- VAT
- 15% (GST - Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, complex rules for residents holding >10% interest in foreign companies
- Property Tax
- Annual 'Rates' set by Tauranga City Council; approx. 0.3-0.5% of value
- Property Transaction Tax
- No Stamp Duty, but 'Bright-line test' (capital gains tax) applies if sold within 2 years
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New residents may qualify for a 4-year tax exemption on foreign passive income
Essentials
- City
- Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
- Population
- Approximately 20,000 (part of the larger Tauranga metropolitan area of 160,000)
- Internet Speed
- Excellent; average 100-900 Mbps via Chorus Fibre; ubiquitous 5G in the main town area
- Currency & Banking
- 1 NZD ≈ 0.61 USD / 0.56 EUR; ANZ, ASB, and BNZ have branches on Maunganui Road
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (Tauranga City Council supply)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I sockets (three-pin flat)
- SIM Card
- Spark, Vodafone (One NZ), and 2degrees; 40GB data plans start around $60 NZD/month
- Banking for Expats
- Wise (highly recommended), Revolut, or local accounts at ANZ (requires proof of address)
- Accommodation
- Modern apartments near the beach, holiday homes, and boutique Airbnbs
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, EFTPOS and contactless (PayWave) are used everywhere; cash is rarely needed
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Bookabach (local version); expect $250-$450 NZD per night for a central apartment
- Budget Accommodation
- Mount Backpackers (87 Maunganui Rd) and Pacific Coast Lodge (432 Maunganui Rd)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The 'Main Mount' area between Pilot Bay and the Main Beach
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Central Parade or the streets near Omanu Beach for a quieter vibe with good cafes