Taranaki

Taranaki is New Zealand’s tenth largest region by population, and is home to 107,500 people.

The region’s main urban centre is New Plymouth, a city that is home to over 60% of the people that inhabit Taranaki.

The landscape is dominated by Mount Taranakior Mount Egmont, the second highest mountain in the North Island. Due to its similarities with Mount Fuji, in Japan, Mount Taranakiwas chosen as the set for the movie The Last Samurai.

The region is government by three territorial authorities: New Plymouth District Council, Stratford District Council and South Taranaki District Council.

Thanks to the heavy rainfall and rich volcanic soil, dairy farming is a predominant industry in Taranaki. In fact, the region is home to largest single-site dairy factory in the Southern Hemisphere, owned by Fonterra, which is located just south of Hawera township in Taranaki.