If you’re looking for a place to live that’s affordable, offers an excellent work-life balance, enjoys a multicultural population, and provides lots to see and do in your spare time, then Rotorua is the place for you.
Population and our people
- Rotorua’s population is approximately 72,500 (Stats NZ June 2018)
- 63.3% of our residents are of European ethnicity, and 40.1% belong to the Māori ethnic group; the remaining population is comprised of Pacific, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African and other ethnicities
- At least 14 different languages are spoken by our residents
- The median age is 36.4 years
Economy
- GDP $2.8 billion (Infometrics Sept 2018)
- More than three million visitors per year (attractions and activities monitor, October 2018)
- Key industries are forestry, geothermal, tourism, and agribusiness
Environment
- The total size of the Rotorua District is 261,906 hectares. This consists of 41% forest, 43% agriculture and 8% lakes.
- Rotorua is nestled in an ancient caldera 20 kilometres across at its widest point and 16 kilometres at the narrowest, with Lake Rotorua nearly 300 metres above sea level.
- There are 18 volcanic lakes in our region, with 16 of those accessible for public recreational use
- More than 110 reserves, gardens and parks are free for public recreational use
- Three major rivers (Waikato, Kaituna and Rangitaiki) are accessible for public recreational use
- Numerous geothermal fields with natural hot pools, spectacular geysers and boiling mud pools attract visitors from all over the world
- Beautiful native and exotic forests surround the city
- Average summer temperatures range from 22-26°C
- Average winter temperatures range from 10-16°C
Infrastructure and services
- Rotorua Airport is only a 10-minute drive from the city centre
- Excellent public and private hospitals and medical centres are located within the city
- We enjoy a well-developed transport infrastructure, including regular daily bus services
- High-performing education providers include preschool to tertiary levels
Life and leisure
- Life in Rotorua is enriched by our multicultural population
- Rotorua is a tourism mecca, with more than 100 attractions and activities to experience
- The city is a well-known destination for annual international sporting events such as Tarawera Ultramarathon and Crankworx Rotorua
- Various sports and recreation clubs, and vibrant community events and markets offer lots of opportunities for fun, fitness and entertainment