Essentials
- City
- Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
- Population
- 158,300
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-200 Mbps (Chorus Fiber widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 NZD ≈ 0.61 USD. 1 USD ≈ 1.64 NZD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Very high quality)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I (three-pin flat)
- SIM Card
- Spark, One NZ (formerly Vodafone), 2degrees (approx. $40 NZD/mo for 10GB)
- Banking for Expats
- ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac; Wise is highly recommended for digital nomads
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Trade Me Property, Booking.com
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, payWave (Contactless) is universal; cash is rarely needed
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Bachcare (local holiday home specialist)
- Budget Accommodation
- Wanderlust NZ ($45-55 NZD/night for dorms, Waterfront location)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Mount Maunganui (beaches, dining, and the holiday vibe)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Tauranga CBD or Papamoa (quieter, better monthly rental availability)
Business
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, complex rules apply to foreign-held interests
- Property Tax
- Yes, Council Rates (based on property value, paid to Tauranga City Council)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Bright-line Test (Capital Gains Tax if sold within 2 years - current policy)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Transitional Resident status (Tax exemption on most foreign income for first 4 years)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $9,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $360,000 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $630,000 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $510,000 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $784,000 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $640,000 NZD)
- Corporate Tax
- 28%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 33% (less impuration credits)
- Tax System
- Residence-based (New Zealand tax residents pay on worldwide income)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 39% (for income over $180,000 NZD)
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $11,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $460,000 NZD)
- VAT
- 15% (GST)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- NZ Post, Aramex
- Tech Repair Services
- Connect NZ (Tauranga CBD)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Tauranga Table Tennis Club (Memorial Park)
- Language Classes
- English Language Partners BOP
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Tauranga City Library (He Puna Taimana)
- Community Centers
- Arataki Community Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- The Cave (Virtual Reality and Gaming Centre)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No casinos in Tauranga (Closest is SkyCity Hamilton, 1.5 hrs away)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Basestation (148 Durham Street) - $45 NZD Day Pass, $450 NZD/mo
- Best Cafe for Work
- Love Rosie Bakery (CBD) or Elizabeth Cafe & Larder (CBD)
- Networking Events
- Priority One (Western Bay of Plenty economic development agency) events
- Social Events for Expats
- Tauranga Digital Nomads Facebook Group, Meetup.com (Bay of Plenty Tech)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (Mainly CBD/The Mount), Ola, or Tauranga Taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beam E-scooters (App-based), My Ride Mount Maunganui for bike hire
- Best Beach Nearby
- Mount Maunganui Main Beach (voted NZ's best)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air New Zealand (Flights to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch)
- Top International Airline
- Air New Zealand, Qantas (via Auckland/Christchurch connection)
- Highway Access
- State Highway 29 (to Waikato) and State Highway 2 (North/South)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tauranga CBD Bus Interchange (Durham Street)
- Public Transport Passes
- Bee Card ($5 for card + top-up; $2.00 per adult fare)
- Regional Travel
- InterCity Bus (to Rotorua: 1.5 hrs, Auckland: 3.5 hrs)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Tauranga Hospital (829 Cameron Road)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- House of Yoga (Mount Maunganui) - $25 NZD Drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Gym Tauranga (City) or FitCo ($15-20 NZD/week)
- Laundry Services
- Liquid Self Service Laundromats (Multiple locations, $5 per wash)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, Delivereasy
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bluff Oysters (Seasonal) or Fresh Snapper/Fish & Chips from Bobby's Fresh Fish Market
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Nourished Eatery (CBD) - Plant-based focus
- Best Dessert Spots
- Polar 77 (Ice Cream/Waffles, Mount Maunganui)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pak'nSave (Cameron Road) - lowest grocery prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Trade Me, Mighty Ape, Amazon.com.au
- Grocery Delivery
- Countdown Online, Woolworths NZ
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Strand (CBD Waterfront) or Maunganui Road (at the Mount)
- Local Brewery
- Mount Brewing Co. (Rising Tide Brewhouse)
- Wine Bars
- Sulphur City (CBD selection) or Volare
- Street Food Stalls
- Dinner in the Domain (Papamoa - seasonal Thursdays)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Rice Rice Baby (Vietnamese), Izakai (Maori-Japanese Fusion)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Mauao (Mount Maunganui summit walk)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tauranga Art Gallery (Corner Wharf and Willow Streets)
- Historical Sites
- The Elms / Te Papa Mission Station (Oldest NZ heritage site)
- Religious Sites
- Holy Trinity Tauranga
- Annual Events
- National Jazz Festival (Easter Weekend)
- Cultural Districts
- The Historic Village (17th Avenue)
- Theater Venues
- Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
- Local Markets
- Tauranga Farmers Market (Saturdays, Tauranga Primary School)
- Music Scene
- Totara Street (Live Music venue at the Mount)
- Street Art
- Street prints Mauao - mural trail across the CBD and Mount
- Cooking Classes
- Falls Retreat (nearby Waihi) or occasional sessions at Tauranga Main School
- Art Galleries
- The Incubator Creative Hub (Historic Village)
- Historic Buildings
- Monmouth Redoubt (Military earthworks)
- Local Heritage
- Maori heritage (Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi tribes)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- McLaren Falls Park (15 mins drive, Waterfall and glow worms)
- National Parks Nearby
- Te Urewera (approx. 2.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Waikareao Estuary Loop (9km waterfront track)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Summit of Mauao (232m above sea level)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Matua Saltmarsh
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited on beaches; use designated BBQ areas at Memorial Park