Population Overview
Pāpāmoa Beach covers 25.80 km² and is the largest residential suburb of Tauranga, situated approximately 11 kilometres east of the city centre. The suburb stretches from the boundary with Mount Maunganui in the west to the Kaituna River in the east along 16 kilometres of Pacific coastline.
Population Growth Over Time
Pāpāmoa has grown from a small coastal community into one of New Zealand's fastest-expanding suburbs over the past three decades. The 2023 Census confirmed a 70% increase from 2013 - one of the highest growth rates of any suburb in the country.
Why is Pāpāmoa growing so fast?
Pāpāmoa's growth is driven by multiple factors: abundant flat land available for residential development east of the existing suburb, strong demand for coastal lifestyle near a major city, relative affordability compared to Auckland and Wellington, improving infrastructure (including motorway connections and The Sands Town Centre), and high appeal for families and retirees. The Tauranga City Council has projected the suburb's population could exceed 40,000 by the early 2030s as Pāpāmoa East continues to develop.
Age Breakdown (2023 Census)
Pāpāmoa has a notable proportion of families with children (21.1% under 15) reflecting its appeal to young families, alongside a growing retiree population (18.8% over 65) drawn by the coastal lifestyle. The median age of 38.7 is slightly above the New Zealand median of 38.1.
Ethnicity (2023 Census)
Residents could identify with more than one ethnicity. Results from the 2023 New Zealand Census:
| Ethnicity | % of population | Approx. count |
|---|---|---|
| European / Pākehā | 81.7% | 28,213 |
| Māori | 18.1% | 6,251 |
| Asian | 8.9% | 3,073 |
| Pasifika | 3.5% | 1,209 |
| MELAA (Middle Eastern, Latin American, African) | 2.6% | 898 |
| Other (incl. "New Zealander") | 1.9% | 656 |
Employment & Income (2023 Census)
| Metric | Pāpāmoa | NZ National |
|---|---|---|
| Median individual income | $42,400 | $41,500 |
| Earning over $100,000/yr | 12.1% | 12.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | - |
| Post-school cert / diploma | 53.2% | - |
| High school only | 23.9% | - |
Religion & Other Characteristics
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Christian | 28.1% |
| No religion | 57.7% |
| Hindu | 1.3% |
| Māori religious beliefs | 1.0% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% |
| Did not answer | 6.8% |
| Identified as LGBTIQ+ | 2.2% |
| Gender: Male | 16,638 (48.2%) |
| Gender: Female | 17,820 (51.6%) |
| Gender: Other | 81 (0.2%) |
️ Pāpāmoa vs Tauranga City
| Metric | Pāpāmoa Beach | Tauranga City |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2023 Census) | 34,533 | ~155,200 |
| Population (June 2025 est.) | 37,910 | ~163,000 |
| Growth 2013–2023 | +70.0% | ~+28% |
| Median age | 38.7 | ~38.5 |
| Pāpāmoa as % of Tauranga | ~23% of city population | |
Pāpāmoa accounts for approximately 23% of Tauranga's total population while covering a much smaller geographic footprint than the city as a whole. This makes it the single largest residential suburb by population in the Tauranga urban area.