Kawerau is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Kawerau, one of 5 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Kawerau is the largest suburb of Kawerau in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Kawerau provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1940 - 1949. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1950 - 1959. Residential housing stock in Kawerau is made up of approximately 99% residential housing and 1% residential investment housing properties.