REGIONAL REVIEW TARANAKI
Taranaki's strength lies in its diversity, with a huge oil and gas presence, a robust engineering sector, a concentrated primary production industry and fast-growing tourism and public events.
Taranaki is home to 124,600 people, most of whom live in the coastal city of New Plymouth. The region is split into three districts, each with its own council: New Plymouth to the north with a population of 86,100; Stratford in central Taranaki with a population of 9,880; and South Taranaki, which includes the main centre of Hawera,with a population of 28,700.
Dominated by Mount Taranaki, the 2,518-metre peak is the central icon for the region, dominating views and delivering a wide range of visitor and lifestyle experiences.
The region also has a coastline of rugged cliffs and sandy black beaches, ideal for swimming, boating, diving, fishing and other water sports. Surfing is also popular, with dozens of renowned surf breaks around Surf Highway 45.
New Plymouth is also home to one of New Zealand's best contemporary art museums, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. The central Pukekura Park is home to the annual Womad festival (World of Music Arts and Dance) and other international performance events; and then there's the Len Lye Centre and Coastal Walkway.
Beyond these events, several garden festivals and major sporting events keep the locals entertained.
Hawera, Stratford, Inglewood, Waitara, Oakura,
