Greerton is a major suburb of Tauranga, the largest city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Greerton is named after Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Harpur Greer, commander of the British forces during the Battle of Gate Pā.[3]
Greerton covers 4.21 km2 (1.63 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,590 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 1,090 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3,696 | — |
| 2013 | 3,735 | +0.15% |
| 2018 | 4,128 | +2.02% |
| 2023 | 4,272 | +0.69% |
| Source: [4][5] | ||
Greerton had a population of 4,272 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 144 people (3.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 537 people (14.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,025 males, 2,232 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,722 dwellings.[6] 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 780 people (18.3%) aged under 15 years, 828 (19.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,800 (42.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 864 (20.2%) aged 65 or older.[4]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.3% European (Pākehā); 21.4% Māori; 4.1% Pasifika; 14.7% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.4%, Māori by 4.1%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 13.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]
Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian, 3.2% Hindu, 0.8% Islam, 1.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 4.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.3%, and 7.0% of people did not answer the census question.[4]
Of those at least 15 years old, 660 (18.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,866 (53.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 969 (27.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 165 people (4.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,770 (50.7%) full-time, 441 (12.6%) part-time, and 75 (2.1%) unemployed.[4]
| Name | Area (km2) |
Population | Density (per km2) |
Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greerton South | 2.81 | 672 | 239 | 270 | 38.5 years | $39,500[7] |
| Greerton North | 1.40 | 3,600 | 2,571 | 1,452 | 36.9 years | $38,200[8] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
It was originally a small village located several kilometres south of Tauranga but was swallowed up by urban development. A military village of 125 one acre lots, the Township of Greerton, was surveyed near Gate Pā. Military settlers were allowed a choice of one acre there or a quarter acre in Te Papa. Originally, very few settlers took up town sections in Greerton.[9]
In 1864 the Tauranga campaign was fought in the neighbouring suburb of Gate Pā with Māori troops withdrawing through Greerton to Pyes Pa.[10][11]
The Greerton community celebrates the cherry blossom festival in the third week of September every year.[12]
Greerton has two co-educational state primary schools: Greerton Village School – Te Kura o Maarawaewae,[13][14] with a roll of 382 (as of July 2025),[15][16] and Greenpark School,[17] with a roll of 659.[18] Greerton Village School, then called Greerton School, celebrated its centenary in 1976.[19]
Greerton is also zoned for Tauranga Intermediate, Tauranga Boys' College and Tauranga Girls' College.[20][21]
Tauranga Racecourse | Mārawaewae is situated on Cameron Road next to Tauranga Golf Course, at the southern end of Greerton Village.
Greerton also has several parks: Greerton Park, Liston Park, Moreland Fox Park, Pemberton Park and Yatton Park.
