Bethlehem, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bethlehem
Suburb
Bethlehem Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty
Local authority	Tauranga
Electoral ward	Bethlehem General Ward
Area
• Land	1,386 ha (3,425 acre)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	9,230

	Bethlehem, New Zealand

Bethlehem is a suburb located in Tauranga, a city on New Zealand's North Island. It used to be a small town on its own, but now it's part of Tauranga. Bethlehem includes several smaller areas like Bethlehem Heights, Sterling Gate, La Cumbre, Saint Andrews, and Mayfield.

Who Lives in Bethlehem?

Bethlehem covers about 13.86 square kilometres. As of June 2023, an estimated 9230 people live here. This means there are about 666 people per square kilometre.

Population Growth

Bethlehem has grown a lot over the years. In 2006, about 5,556 people lived there. By 2013, the population was 7,050. The latest census in 2018 showed 8,634 people. This means the population increased by 1,584 people between 2013 and 2018.

People and Cultures

In 2018, there were 3,228 households in Bethlehem. There were more females (4,593) than males (4,044). About 1,473 people (17.1%) were under 15 years old. Many different cultures make up Bethlehem. Most people (85.8%) are European/Pākehā. About 10.8% are Māori, 1.5% are Pacific peoples, and 8.3% are Asian. Some people identify with more than one group.

Religious Beliefs

When asked about their religion, 40.2% of people said they had no religion. About 49.0% were Christian. Smaller groups followed Māori religious beliefs, Hindu, Muslim, or Buddhist faiths.

Marae in Bethlehem

A marae is a special meeting place for Māori people in New Zealand. It is a very important cultural and spiritual centre. Bethlehem has two Ngāti Ranginui marae:

• Hangarau or Peterehema Marae and its Hangarau meeting house. This marae is connected to the Ngāti Hangarau iwi (tribe).
• Te Wairoa Marae and its Kahu Tapu meeting house. This marae is connected to Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Pango, and Ngāti Rangi iwi.

Shopping and Economy

Bethlehem Town Centre

The Bethlehem Town Centre is a large shopping area. It covers 20,000 square metres and has plenty of parking spaces. You can find about 50 different shops and businesses there. Some of the well-known stores include Kmart, Countdown, and Smiths City.

Schools and Learning

Bethlehem Campus

The Bethlehem Campus is a unique place where several Christian schools are located together.

Bethlehem College

Bethlehem College is a school for students from Year 1 to Year 13 (ages 5 to 18). It is a co-educational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. The school has a roll of 2,005 students as of February 2024.

Bethlehem Tertiary Institute

This institute, also known as BTI, offers higher education. Students can study for Degrees and Diplomas in subjects like teaching, social work, and counselling. They also offer a Master of Professional Practice. Over 400 students are enrolled here. You can study on campus or through distance learning. The institute started in 1988 as a primary school with 100 students and has grown a lot since then.

Famous Former Students

Some well-known people have studied at Bethlehem College, including:

• Kiri Allan (a Member of Parliament)
• David Farrier (a journalist and actor)
• Michael Ashton (a makeup artist)
• Sam Tanner (a 1500m runner)
• Mika Vukona (a professional basketball player)

Other Schools in Bethlehem

Bethlehem also has three other schools:

• Bethlehem School: This is a primary school for both boys and girls. It has a roll of 374 students.
• Tauranga Adventist School: This is a primary school for both boys and girls, connected to the Seventh-day Adventist faith. It has a roll of 116 students.
• Te Wharekura o Mauao: This is a secondary school for both boys and girls. It has a roll of 269 students.