Te Whatu Ora Lakes serves a population of just over 110,000 and covers 9,570 square kilometres.
It stretches from Mourea, north of Rotorua, to Mangakino in the west down to Tūrangi in the south and across to Kaingaroa village in the east.
The major centres of population are Rotorua and Taupō and the main smaller communities are Mangakino and Turangi.
The principal iwi (Māori tribal groups) in the Lakes DHB district are Te Arawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. A significant number of Māori living here affiliate to iwi outside the district.
There are two territorial local authorities within Te Whatu Ora Lakes boundaries – Rotorua Lakes and Taupō.
The executive offices of Te Whatu Ora Lakes are located in Rotorua on the Rotorua Hospital campus.