Tai Tapu, previously known as Taitapu, is a small town adjacent to the Halswell River and nestled in the Port Hills, located 6 km east of the town of Lincoln and 18 km south west of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. State Highway 75 passes through the centre of the village, connecting Christchurch with Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula.

The Tai Tapu Hotel was established in 1856 and is located 1 km north of the town centre on a scenic country road. It has a large outdoor dining area that looks over the Halswell River with views to the Tai Tapu Golf Course.

The name Tai Tapu is derived from the Māori words wai tapu, which means sacred or solemn water.^[3]

The village was previously known as Taitapu, until an official name change in 2009.^[4]

The village is often colloquially referred to as 'Tai Tap' by locals.^[5]

Tai Tapu is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 2.42 km² (0.93 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 660 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 273 people per km². Tai Tapu is part of the larger Tai Tapu statistical area.^[6]

The settlement had a population of 540 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 69 people (14.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 204 people (60.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 171 households, comprising 276 males and 267 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female, with 141 people (26.1%) aged under 15 years, 60 (11.1%) aged 15 to 29, 270 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (12.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 96.1% European/Pākehā, 9.4% Māori, 1.1% Pasifika, 0.6% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.6% had no religion, 31.7% were Christian, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 117 (29.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 48 (12.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 126 people (31.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 225 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 81 (20.3%) were part-time, and 3 (0.8%) were unemployed.^[7]

Tai Tapu School is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8.^[10] It had a roll of 216 as of February 2024.^[11] The school opened in 1876.^[12]