 New Plymouth is the port and main city in the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand.
The city is a service centre for the region's principal economic activities including intensive pastoral activities (mainly dairy farming) as well as oil, natural gas and petrochemical exploration and production.
New Plymouth is also a bustling financial centre as the home of the TSB Bank (formerly the Taranaki Savings Bank), which is the only 100% non-government New Zealand-owned bank. The population is about 49,000. Notable features are the botanic gardens (eg Pukekura Park), the 7km coastal walkway alongside the Tasman Sea, the 45 m high artwork called the wind wand designed by Len Lye, and views of Mount Taranaki (also known as Mount Egmont).
It is also noted for being a coastal city with a mountain within 30 minutes drive, where residents and visitors to New Plymouth can snowboard, ski, water ski and surf all in the same day. |
