Welcome Bay

Welcome Bay covers {{Convert|11.65|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised)|access-date=12 June 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Kaitemako|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Welcome Bay West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Welcome Bay East|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Welcome Bay South|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Kaitemako|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Welcome Bay West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Welcome Bay East|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Welcome Bay South|y}}|R}})/11.65|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|7,527|2013|8,667|2018|10,284|2023|11,052|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Kaitemako (Tauranga City) (196300), Welcome Bay West (196600), Welcome Bay East (196700) and Welcome Bay South (196900)}}}}

Welcome Bay had a population of 11,052 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 768 people (7.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,385 people (27.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 5,466 males, 5,550 females, and 39 people of other genders in 3,594 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.53450%2B196301%2B196600%2B196700%2B196900.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 2,463 people (22.3%) aged under 15 years, 2,130 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 4,986 (45.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,473 (13.3%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 77.4% European (Pākehā); 23.8% Māori; 4.4% Pasifika; 9.6% Asian; 1.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.1%, Māori by 6.0%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 12.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 28.3% Christian, 1.5% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 2.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 3.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.1%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,893 (22.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 4,809 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,887 (22.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $43,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 819 people (9.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 4,620 (53.8%) full-time, 1,299 (15.1%) part-time, and 195 (2.3%) unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.53450.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Welcome Bay (53450)}}

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The local Tahuwhakatiki or Romai Marae and its Rongomainohorangi meeting house are a traditional meeting place for the Ngāti Ranginui hapū of Pirirākau.{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}

In October 2020, the Government committed $500,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating 6 jobs.{{cite web |title=Marae Announcements |url=https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx |website=growregions.govt.nz |publisher=Provincial Growth Fund |format=Excel |date=9 October 2020}}

Welcome Bay is a sub-tropical climate zone, with warm humid summers and mild winters. Typical summer daytime maximum air temperatures range from 22 °C to 26 °C, but seldom exceed 30 °C. Winter daytime maximum air temperatures range from 12 °C to 17 °C. Annual sunshine hours average least 2200 hours. Southwest winds prevail for much of the year. Sea breezes often occur on warm summer days. Winter usually has more rain and is the most unsettled time of year. In summer and autumn, storms of tropical origin may bring high winds and heavy rainfall from the east or northeast.{{cite web |title=Climate |url=https://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/resources/climate |website=niwa.co.nz |publisher=NIWA |date=October 2017}}

Public transport in Welcome Bay solely consists of bus services. The suburb is served by one 'Bay Hopper' routes; Route 40 (City - 15th Ave - Welcome Bay).{{cite web |title=City 15th Ave Welcome Bay |url=http://www.baybus.co.nz/tauranga-western-bay/tauranga-urban/city-15th-ave-welcome-bay |website=baybus.co.nz |publisher=Bay Bus}}

Welcome Bay has two state primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Welcome Bay School,{{cite web |title=Welcome Bay School Official School Website |url=http://www.welcomebay.school.nz |website=welcomebay.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Welcome Bay School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2076 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2076|y}},{{cite web |title=Welcome Bay School Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/2076/welcome-bay-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} and Selwyn Ridge School,{{cite web |title=Selwyn Ridge School Official School Website |url=http://www.selwynridge.school.nz |website=selwynridge.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Selwyn Ridge School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=6945 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|6945|y}}.{{cite web |title=Selwyn Ridge School Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/6945/selwyn-ridge-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} Welcome Bay School opened in 1979 because Maungatapu School was under pressure from its growing roll.{{cite web|url=https://www.maungatapu.school.nz/information/history-of-maungatapu/|title=Te Hītori — History of Maungatapu|publisher=Te Kura o Maungatapu — Maungatapu Primary School|access-date=12 June 2025}} Selwyn Ridge opened in 1997.{{cite web|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/opening-selwyn-ridge-primary-school|title=Opening of Selwyn Ridge Primary School|publisher=New Zealand Government|first=Brian|last=Donnelly|author-link=Brian Donnelly (New Zealand politician)|date=13 January 1997}}

Tauranga Waldorf School is a state-integrated primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,{{cite web |title=Rudolf Steiner School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1187 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1187|y}}.{{cite web |title=Rudolf Steiner School Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/1187/tauranga-waldorf-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} The school was established in 1988.{{cite web|url=https://www.waldorftga.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2023/02/TWS-Prospectus.pdf|title=Prospectus|publisher=Tauranga Waldorf School|access-date=12 June 2025}}

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou is a Māori language immersion school for Year 1 to 8 students,{{cite web |title=Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou Official School Website |url=http://www.otepou.school.nz |website=otepou.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1873 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1873|y}}.{{cite web |title=Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/1873/tkkm-o-otepou |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} The school traces its origin to the native school at Ngapeke in 1889 and other native/Māori schools in the Welcome Bay/Papamoa area.{{cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21866175|title=Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou : Experimental School Ngapeke School Karikari 1889, Papamoa Native School Kopukairoa 1890-1900, Papamoa Maori School 1943, Otepou Public School 1968, Otepou Kura Kaupapa Maori 1993|year=1994|publisher=Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Otepou|last=Reeder|first=Waitai}}

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

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{{Tauranga}}

Category:Suburbs of Tauranga

Category:Populated places around the Tauranga Harbour