Taupō

The name Taupō is from the Māori language and is a shortened version of Taupō-nui-a-Tia. The longer name was first given to the cliff at Pākā Bay, on the eastern shore of the lake, and means the "great cloak of Tia". It was named for Tia, the Māori explorer who discovered the lake. Māori later applied the name to the lake itself.[3] In 2019 the official name of the town was changed from Taupo to Taupō.[4][5]

Although the English pronunciation "tow-po" (/ˈtaʊpoʊ/, NZE /ˈtæʊpaʉ/) is widespread, it is often regarded as incorrect, and the Māori pronunciation, "toe-paw" (/ˈtoʊpɔː/, NZE /ˈtaʉpoː/), is generally preferred in formal use.[6][7][8][9]

Taupō is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, which is itself in the caldera of the Taupō Volcano. The Waikato River drains the lake and runs through the town, separating the CBD and the northern suburbs. The river flows over the spectacular Huka Falls, a short distance north of the town, Taupō is a centre of volcanic and geothermal activity, and hot springs suitable for bathing are located at several places in the vicinity. The volcanic Mount Tauhara lies six kilometres (4 mi) to the east.

Somewhat to the northeast are significant hot springs. These springs contain extremophile micro-organisms that live in extremely hot environments.

The small but growing satellite town of Kinloch, where there is a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, is 20 kilometres west along the lake.

View of snow-capped mountains shrouded in cloud, Taupō

Taupō is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area and covers 42.95 km² (16.58 sq mi), which stretches from Acacia Bay in the west to Centennial Park in the east and to Taupō Airport in the south.[11] The Taupō urban area had an estimated population of 26,500 as of June 2023, with a population density of 617.00 people per km². It is the 26th-largest urban area in New Zealand, and the second-largest in the Waikato Region behind Hamilton.[1]

The Taupō urban area had a population of 23,631 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,508 people (11.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,937 people (14.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 9,000 households, comprising 11,520 males and 12,096 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 4,740 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 3,849 (16.3%) aged 15 to 29, 10,164 (43.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 4,875 (20.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 79.8% European/Pākehā, 24.5% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 5.7% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.7% had no religion, 34.9% were Christian, 2.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,991 (15.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3,510 (18.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 2,835 people (15.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 9,246 (48.9%) people were employed full-time, 3,003 (15.9%) were part-time, and 507 (2.7%) were unemployed.[12]

Taupō is a tourist centre, particularly in the summer, as it offers panoramic views over the lake and to the volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park to the south. It offers a number of tourist activities including sky diving, jet boating, parasailing, and bungy jumping. [15]

Taupō services a number of surrounding plantation pine forests including the large Kaingaroa Forest and related industry. A large sawmill is sited approximated 3 km to the north east of the town on Centennial Drive.

Taupō is surrounded by seven geothermal power stations including the historic Wairakei geothermal power station a few kilometres north of the town.

Regular sporting events in Taupō include Ironman New Zealand, the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge and the Great Lake Relay (established in 1995).[16][17] The Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge has about 5,000 riders.[18] The Oxfam Trailwalker has been held in Taupō several times.[19][20] In 2006 Taupō was also the location of the off-road motorcycle event FIM International Six Day Enduro.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association has designated the mountain biking trails at Bike Taupō as a silver-level IMBA Ride Center.[21] Ride Centers are the IMBA's strongest endorsement of a trail experience.[22]

One of the main streets of the Taupō CBD, with the Taupo Domain on the left

Taupō has four high schools: Tauhara College, Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, Māori immersion Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa i Te Reo ki Tuwharetoa and state integrated Lake Taupo Christian School. It also has Wairakei, St Patrick's, Waipahihi, Hilltop, Mount View, Taupō and Tauhara primary schools, and Taupo Intermediate School.

• Patrick Bevin (born 1991), road racing cyclist
• Bevan Docherty (born 1977), Olympic triathlete
• Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tukino VIII, Maori Paramount Chief
• James Tito actor and musician
• Nicole van der Kaay (born 1996) Olympic triathlete
• Louisa Wall (born 1972), member of parliament and former national representative netball and rugby union player
• Hayden Wilde (born 1997), Olympic triathlete

Taupō is twinned with:[29]

• Hakone, Japan
• Kulim, Malaysia
• Nouméa, New Caledonia
• Suzhou, China
• Xi'an, China

• Owen Delany Park
• Taupō railway proposals

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taupō.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Taupō.

• Regional Tourism Organisation for the Taupo district