South Taranaki is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island that contains the towns of Hāwera (the seat of the district), Manaia, Ōpunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley. The District has a land area of 3,575.46 km2 (1,380.49 sq mi) and a population of 30,400 (June 2024).[2] It is part of the greater Taranaki Region.

South Taranaki District
Hāwera
Hāwera
South Taranaki district within the North Island
South Taranaki district within the North Island
Coordinates: 39°29′35″S 174°26′49″E / 39.493°S 174.447°E / -39.493; 174.447
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
Wards
  • Taranaki Coastal
  • Eltham-Kaponga
  • Te Hāwera
  • Pātea
  • Te Kūrae (Māori)
  • Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
 • MayorPhil Nixon
 • Deputy MayorRobert Northcott
 • Territorial authoritySouth Taranaki District Council
Area
 • Land3,575.08 km2 (1,380.35 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total30,400
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)

The district straddles the boundary separating the Wellington and Taranaki provinces, resulting in the town of Waverley celebrating Wellington Anniversary Day in January, and the town of Patea 15 kilometres away celebrating Taranaki Anniversary Day in March.[citation needed]

Council facilities include the South Taranaki LibraryPlus, Mania, Kaponga, Patea, Eltham, Opunake, Hāwera and Waverley libraries.[3]

History

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The South Taranaki District was established as part of the 1989 local government reforms, merging Egmont, Eltham, Hawera, Patea and Waimate West counties.[4]

Demographics

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South Taranaki District covers 3,575.08 km2 (1,380.35 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 30,400 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 8.5 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200626,487—    
201326,580+0.05%
201827,534+0.71%
202329,025+1.06%
Source: [5][6]

South Taranaki District had a population of 29,025 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,491 people (5.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,445 people (9.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 14,655 males, 14,262 females and 105 people of other genders in 11,202 dwellings.[7] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6,171 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 4,830 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 12,906 (44.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,115 (17.6%) aged 65 or older.[6]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.2% European (Pākehā); 29.3% Māori; 3.0% Pasifika; 4.0% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori language by 6.6%, Samoan by 0.5% and other languages by 4.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 30.7% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 1.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.1%, and 9.1% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,830 (8.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 13,113 (57.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 7,359 (32.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,746 people (7.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 11,160 (48.8%) people were employed full-time, 2,958 (12.9%) were part-time, and 717 (3.1%) were unemployed.[6]

 
Population density in the 2023 census
Individual wards
Name Area
(km2)
Population Density
(per km2)
Dwellings Median age Median
income
Taranaki Coastal General Ward 805.54 6,387 7.9 2,421 38.2 years $37,100[8]
Eltham-Kaponga General Ward 620.48 4,782 7.7 1,806 38.3 years $38,600[9]
Te Hāwera General Ward 481.06 13,821 28.7 5,247 39.8 years $37,600[10]
Pātea General Ward 1,668.00 4,035 2.4 1,728 43.9 years $31,800[11]
New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

Government

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The current mayor is Phil Nixon.[12] The deputy mayor is Robert Northcott.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "South Taranaki LibraryPlus". South Taranaki District Council. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Determination of representation arrangements to apply for the election of South Taranaki District Council to be held on 12 October 2019" (PDF). Local Government Commission. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. South Taranaki District (035). 2018 Census place summary: South Taranaki District
  6. ^ a b c "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. South Taranaki District (035). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Taranaki Coastal General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Eltham-Kaponga General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Te Hāwera General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Pātea General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Mayor of South Taranaki". South Taranaki District Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  13. ^ "South Taranaki District Councillors". South Taranaki District Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
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