Greerton


Greerton is a major suburb of Tauranga, the largest city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. According to the 2013 census, Greerton has a total population of 4,173. Greerton is named after Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Harpur Greer, commander of the British forces during the Battle of Gate Pa.

History

It was originally a small village located several kilometers south of Tauranga but was swallowed up by urban development. A military village of 125 one acre lots, the Township of Greerton, was surveyed near Gate Pa. Military settlers were allowed a choice of one acre there or a quarter acre in Te Papa. Originally, very few settlers took up town sections in Greerton.
In 1864 the battle of Gate Pa was fought in the neighbouring suburb of Gate Pa with Maori troops withdrawing through Greerton to Pyes Pa.

People

As of the 2013 census, Greerton is made up of the following ethnic groups: European 78.3%, Maori 18.9%, Asian 9.0%, Pacific 3.7%, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African 0.4%, and other 1.9%.
The Greerton community celebrates the cherry blossom festival in the third week of September every year.

Education

Greerton has two co-educational state primary schools: Greerton Village School, with a roll of, and Greenpark School, with a roll of.
Greerton is also zoned for Tauranga Intermediate, Tauranga Boys' College and Tauranga Girls' College.

Recreation

Tauranga Racecourse is situated on Cameron Road next to Tauranga Golf Course, at the top end of Greerton Village.
Greerton also has two parks: Pemberton Park and Yatton Park.