Bay of Plenty of less than $20,000, compared with 43.2% of people nationally. Unemployment was at 6.1% of people 15 years or older, compared with 5.1% nationally. The Bay of Plenty is a popular holiday destination due to the warm and sunny summer climate and public beaches. The Bay of Plenty received over 645,000 tourists in 2003, equivalent to one in three visitors to New Zealand coming to the region. Rotorua is a popular destination for international visitors, in particular the surrounding geothermal areas and Māori cultural centres. Tauranga is a popular domestic tourism destination, and also becoming popular internationally. Whale watching has
Bay of Plenty rugby league team Alex Chan. The Stags drew players from both the Bay of Plenty Rugby League and the Coastlines Rugby League competitions. Between 2004 and 2008 they were represented by the Waicoa Bay Stallions in the Bartercard Cup. The Stallions represented the Waikato Rugby League and Coastlines Rugby League as well as the Bay of Plenty Rugby League. In 2008 and 2009 the Bay of Plenty provincial side competed in the National Provincial Competition. Former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe was the coach of the side for 2008. In 2009 they did not win a game and finished sixth. Bay of Plenty rugby