Bethlehem, New Zealand


Bethlehem is a suburb of Tauranga in New Zealand's North Island. Originally a small independent town, it has now been absorbed by Tauranga and comprises a number of subdivisions including Bethlehem Heights, Sterling Gate, La Cumbre, Saint Andrews, and Mayfield.
It is situated on State Highway 2, and has amenities such as the Bethlehem Town Centre shopping centre.

History and culture

Bethlehem has two Ngāti Ranginui marae:

Bethlehem Campus

The local Bethlehem Campus includes several Christian educational institutions on a single site.
Bethlehem College is a co-educational state-integrated school for Year 1 to 13 students. with a roll of as of.
In January 2013 a van of Bethlehem College students and former students crashed in a small village in Kenya, while they were on a volunteer mission at Ark Quest Academy. Student Caitlin Dickson was killed, as were married couple Brian and Grace Johnston. Kenyan bus driver Christopher Mmata was also killed.
Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, formerly the Bethlehem Institute of Education, is a tertiary institution offering Degrees and Diplomas in teaching, social work and counselling and a Master of Professional Practice. Over 400 students are enrolled and students may study either onsite with a 'flipped classroom' approach or through innovative distance learning. The academy was founded in 1988 as a primary school with 100 students, and has expanded since to offer secondary and tertiary education.

Other schools

Bethlehem has three other schools.
Bethlehem School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of.
Tauranga Adventist School is a co-educational state-integrated Seventh-day Adventist primary school, with a roll of.
Te Wharekura o Mauao is a co-educational state secondary school, with a roll of.