Poverty and living standards in Tauranga, New Zealand: official figures
11,172 people in Tauranga were receiving a main benefit in September 2026: 5,574 on Jobseeker Support, 2,544 on Sole Parent Support and 2,964 on the Supported Living Payment (Ministry of Social Development, numbers rounded to base 3). This is 69 for every 1,000 residents. That is 3rd lowest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
How has the number of people on benefits in Tauranga changed?
The number of people receiving a main benefit in Tauranga was 11,172 in September 2026, compared with 9,495 in September 2021 (+18%), according to the Ministry of Social Development.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow many people in Tauranga are on Jobseeker Support?
35 in every 1,000 residents of Tauranga were receiving Jobseeker Support in September 2026 (New Zealand: 41). That is 3rd lowest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow deprived is Tauranga?
9.9% of people in Tauranga lived in the two most deprived tenths of areas (deciles 9 and 10) of the New Zealand Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation at the 2023 Census, while 19.8% lived in the two least deprived tenths. That is 2nd lowest deprivation of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much rent do people pay in Tauranga?
At the 2023 Census, 3.4% of renting households in Tauranga paid $800 or more a week in rent and 14.2% paid under $300.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Tauranga have no internet at home?
7.9% of people in Tauranga did not have access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Tauranga compares with other cities in New Zealand
People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents (September 2026)
Tauranga ranks 7 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napier-Hastings | 92 |
| 4 | Lower Hutt | 88 |
| 5 | Christchurch | 77 |
| 6 | Auckland | 75 |
| 7 | Tauranga | 69 |
| 8 | Dunedin | 67 |
| 9 | Wellington | 54 |
People living in the two most deprived deciles (2023 Census)
Tauranga ranks 8 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People living in the two most deprived deciles |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napier-Hastings | 25.2% |
| 4 | Auckland | 22.8% |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | 21.3% |
| 6 | Dunedin | 19.7% |
| 7 | Christchurch | 15.6% |
| 8 | Tauranga | 9.9% |
| 9 | Wellington | 5.5% |
More on Tauranga: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in New Zealand
Sources
- Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand): Benefit Fact Sheets: Territorial Authorities (TA) data tables, September 2026, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9e82549b2b86…)
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Tauranga City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a35e63aea4f1…)
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Wellington City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c078d1c26a…)
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