Tongaporutu is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of New Plymouth, one of 41 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Tongaporutu is the 37th largest suburb of New Plymouth in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Tongaporutu provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1910 - 1919. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1960 - 1969. Residential housing stock in Tongaporutu is made up of approximately 72% residential housing and 28% lifestyle properties.