PLENTY OF DEMAND
Caressed by sea and golden-sand beaches, Bay of Plenty has always been a drawcard for summer holiday makers. But look back 10 years and you’ll find its main centre, Tauranga, languishing in obscurity. The employment market was depressed, there was little to do once the golden weather passed, and it had landed itself a reputation as a retirement town.
What a difference a decade makes. The extensive development of the Port of Tauranga (which brought opportunities across pay scales), alongside the arrival of big business such as Brother, who built a $10 million headquarters in the city in 2016, brought employment and new life to the city.
When the Auckland housing market took off in 2015, a flow of expat Aucklanders headed south. The combination of cheap(er) housing, abundant work, and those golden beaches, made Tauranga a major drawcard. Its popularity has
