Bombay, New Zealand

Bombay is a rural community in the Bombay Hills at the southern boundary of Auckland Region of New Zealand. The Auckland Southern Motorway runs through Bombay.^[6]

Bombay
Bombay motorway service centre
Coordinates: 37.191°S 174.988°E / -37.191; 174.988
Country	New Zealand
Region	Auckland Region
Territorial authority	Auckland Council
Ward	Franklin ward
Board	Franklin Local Board
Electorates	Papakura Hauraki-Waikato (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Auckland Council
• Mayor of Auckland	Wayne Brown[1]
• Papakura MP	Judith Collins[2]
• Hauraki-Waikato MP	Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke[3]
Area [4]
• Total	1.47 km2 (0.57 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[5]
• Total	520
• Density	350/km2 (920/sq mi)
Postcode	2675
Area code	09

Bombay is named for the ship Bombay, which transported settlers from England to the area in 1863. At the beginning of the 20th century, a community of Indian New Zealanders also settled in the area. A Sikh temple was opened in 2004.^[7]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Bombay as a rural settlement, which covers 1.47 km² (0.57 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 520 as of June 2024,^[5] with a population density of 354 people per km². Bombay is part of the larger Bombay Hills statistical area.^[8]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	435	—
2013	258	−7.19%
2018	438	+11.17%
2023	504	+2.85%
The 2006 population is for a significantly larger area of 5.88 km2. Source: [9][10]

Bombay had a population of 504 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 66 people (15.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 246 people (95.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 237 males and 264 females in 156 dwellings.^[11] 1.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 99 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 90 (17.9%) aged 15 to 29, 234 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 81 (16.1%) aged 65 or older.^[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.5% European (Pākehā); 14.9% Māori; 4.8% Pasifika; 10.7% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 10.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 16.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[10]

Religious affiliations were 34.5% Christian, 2.4% Hindu, 2.4% Islam, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 48.8%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 72 (17.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 258 (63.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 69 (17.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $53,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 78 people (19.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 237 (58.5%) people were employed full-time, 57 (14.1%) were part-time, and 6 (1.5%) were unemployed.^[10]

Education

Bombay School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 384 as of July 2025.^[12][13] The school opened in 1872.^[14]