The South Waikato lies at the heart of the North Island, stretching east and west of State Highway 1. The district has a strong history in forestry and dairy farming.
Three of the district's four main towns are situated along State Highway 1. The largest centere is Tokoroa which is home to around 13,000 people. Further north is Putaruru (4,000 people), Tirau (700 people) and to the east the small Arapuni community with some 400 residents.
