Whakatane is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Whakatane, one of 21 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Whakatane is the largest suburb of Whakatane in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Whakatane provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1880 - 1889. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1970 - 1979. Residential housing stock in Whakatane is made up of approximately 89% residential housing , 2% residential investment housing and 9% lifestyle properties.