Katikati

"Katikati is an ever-growing community with great people who make it a brilliant place to visit and live. Our town has everything anybody could want. I think of Katikati as the 'Eden of the Bay'. Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu (although it is small it is very precious)."

Te Runanga O Ngai Tamawhariua

Katikati is a popular town a relaxed atmosphere, great lifestyle options and business opportunities.

With a population close to 5000, it is located on SH2, 28km south of Waihi and 40km north-west of Tauranga City. The town lies next to Uretara Stream near a tidal inlet near the northern end of Tauranga Harbour and at the foothills of the Kaimai Mamaku Forest.

With great lifestyle options and a temperate coastal climate, many people from around the country and the world are considering Katikati an attractive place to live and work.

Katikati is known as ‘New Zealand’s Mural Town’ and is home to our country’s largest outdoor art gallery. About 75 pieces of art depicting the history of this bustling rural town adorn walls on the town’s buildings. Sculptures, carvings, mosaics and tapestries are also on display in the town. More recently Katikati has also become known as the Avocado Capital of New Zealand with the majority of the production of fruit coming from Katikati.

The Katikati Visitor Information Centre is open seven days a week in the centre of town at the Arts Junction for all visitor information on accommodation, shops and services as well as local and regional events.

Katikati was settled in 1875 by settlers from County Tyrone in Ireland through the Orange Institution. The settlement was established by the Irishman George Vesey Stewart. The land upon which the town was built was bought from local Maori and was given to the settlers by the government.

Amenities and services

• The Centre – Pātuki Manawa the town’s library, council service centre and community hub
• For things to do in Katikati visit the Bay of Plenty tourism site here.
• Katch Katikati is the town’s local promotions agency.
• Western Bay Museum - telling the history of our District.
• The Arts Junction - housing one of Katikati’s many art galleries, the Carlton Gallery is open 7 days a week.
• Walking tracks – there are lots of walks to do around the Katikati area. Check them out here.
• Cycle tracks, newly constructed and some still under construction, there is about 20km of tracks and linking roads that will give you a great impression of the town
• For more information and things to do in Katikati go to our Katikati website.