Patea is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of South Taranaki, one of 18 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Patea is the 4th largest suburb of South Taranaki in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Patea provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1900 - 1909. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1950 - 1959. Residential housing stock in Patea is made up of approximately 87% residential housing , 2% residential investment housing and 11% lifestyle properties.