Story: Taranaki region

Land area

• Taranaki: 7,213 sq km¹
• New Zealand: 268,690 sq km

Climate

(National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research data, 1971–2000)

New Plymouth

• Mean temperature, January: 18°C
• Mean temperature, July: 10°C
• Mean annual rainfall: 1,432 mm
• Mean annual sunshine: 2,182 hours

Total population, 2006

• Taranaki: 104,127
• New Zealand: 4,027,947

Ethnic affiliation, 2006

European

• Taranaki: 77.0%
• New Zealand: 67.6%

New Zealander ²

• Taranaki: 13.6%
• New Zealand: 11.1%

Māori

• Taranaki: 15.8%
• New Zealand: 14.6%

Pacific Islander

• Taranaki: 1.4%
• New Zealand: 6.9%

Asian

• Taranaki: 2.1%
• New Zealand: 9.2%

Principal tribes and sub-tribes

Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Maru, Taranaki, Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru

Population of major urban areas, 2006

• New Plymouth: 42,405
• Hāwera: 8,367
• Stratford: 5,337

Age distribution, 2006

Under 15

• Taranaki: 21.8%
• New Zealand: 21.5%

15–64

• Taranaki: 63.4%
• New Zealand: 66.2%

65 and over

• Taranaki: 14.8%
• New Zealand: 12.3%

Employment by industry, 2006

(Figures are for workers aged 15 and over, in selected industries in which the region’s employment pattern is most distinctive)

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

• Taranaki: 13.5%
• New Zealand: 6.8%

Manufacturing

• Taranaki: 13.5%
• New Zealand: 11.0%

Professional, scientific and technical services

• Taranaki: 5.6%
• New Zealand: 7.8%

Unemployment, 2006

• Taranaki: 4.7%
• New Zealand: 5.1%

Livestock numbers, 2007

Sheep

• Taranaki: 656,144
• New Zealand: 38,460,477

Dairy cattle

• Taranaki: 589,573
• New Zealand: 5,260,850

Beef cattle

• Taranaki: 136,715
• New Zealand: 4,393,617