Holdens Bay

Holdens Bay is an eastern suburb of Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. Demographics Holdens Bay covers 0.46 km2 (0.18 sq mi). It is part of the Holdens Bay-Rotokawa statistical area. Holdens Bay had a population of 609 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 75 people (14.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 87 people (16.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 315 males, 297 females, and 3 people of other genders in 240 dwellings. 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 135 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 141 (23.2%) aged 15 to 29, 255 (41.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 84 (13.8%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 74.4% European (Pākehā), 41.4% Māori, 10.8% Pasifika, 5.9% Asian, and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.0%, Māori by 12.8%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 7.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.2, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 31.5% Christian, 0.5% Islam, 3.0% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.2%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (15.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 297 (62.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 114 (24.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 36 people (7.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 249 (52.5%) full-time, 60 (12.7%) part-time, and 24 (5.1%) unemployed. Holdens Bay-Rotokawa statistical area The statistical area of Holdens Bay-Rotokawa, which also includes Hannahs Bay, covers 5.50 km2 (2.12 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,420 as of June 2025, with a population density of 258 people per km2. Holdens Bay-Rotokawa had a population of 1,332 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (8.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 192 people (16.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 648 males, 681 females, and 6 people of other genders in 492 dwellings. 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 291 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 273 (20.5%) aged 15 to 29, 585 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 186 (14.0%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 68.0% European (Pākehā); 46.4% Māori; 7.9% Pasifika; 5.2% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.4%, Māori by 14.4%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 6.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.2, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 30.9% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 3.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 186 (17.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 615 (59.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 246 (23.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 78 people (7.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 540 (51.9%) full-time, 147 (14.1%) part-time, and 36 (3.5%) unemployed. Education Rotokawa School is a coeducational primary school for year 1–6 students with a roll of 155 as of March 2026. The school opened in 1956. Rotokawa Maori School, opened 1926, was a predecessor. References