On the west side of the Bay of Plenty is the town of Tauranga. Its Maori name means 'calm water' or 'sheltered anchorage' - referring to the natural harbor enclosed by the long, narrow island of Matakana. The fertile soil and temperate climate provide ideal conditions for the growing of kiwi fruit, plantations of which, with their tall hedges as
windbreaks, pattern the landscape.
The settlement of Tauranga was established in the 19th C. on confiscated Maori land as a military base and became a market center for the surrounding area. More recently the beautiful beaches near the town have made it a popular holiday resort and a favorite place for retirement.
After the infertile pumice soils in the hinterland of the volcanic plateau had been turned into good pasture with the aid of cobalt fertilizers and, after 30 years, the huge coniferous forests were ready for felling the population of the Tauranga area increased sharply. In more recent times Tauranga has lost none of its attraction. Communications have been much improved, for example by the construction of a railroad tunnel through the Kaimai Range, providing direct connections with Hamilton and Auckland, and a new harbor bridge. The harbor, at the foot of Mount Maunganui, is now New Zealand's leading port for exports.
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