Not to be confused with Midhurst, the town in West Sussex, England.
Midhirst
Area total1.83 km²
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki Region
Territorial authorityStratford District
Ward
  • Stratford Rural General Ward
  • Stratford Māori Ward
Electorates
Territorial AuthorityStratford District Council
Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
Coordinates39°17′36″S 174°15′59″E

Midhirst is a small village in Taranaki, New Zealand, approximately 4 km north of Stratford, on State Highway 3. Inglewood is 17 km (11 mi) north of Midhirst, and New Plymouth is 35 km (22 mi) to the northwest.[1][2]

Demographics

Midhirst is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, which covers 1.83 km2 (0.71 sq mi).[3] iT had an estimated population of as of with a population density of /1.83 people per km2. It is part of the larger Pembroke statistical area.[4]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2006228—
2013237+3.9%
2018252+6.3%
2023276+9.5%

[5][6]

Midhirst had a population of 276 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (9.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 39 people (16.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 138 males and 138 females in 114 dwellings.[7] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 51 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 51 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 132 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.2% European (Pākehā); 15.2% Māori; 3.3% Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.7%, Māori by 5.4%, and other languages by 4.3%. No language could be spoken by 4.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 28.3% Christian, and 2.2% Hindu. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.0%, and 9.8% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (8.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 129 (57.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 75 (33.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (4.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 126 (56.0%) full-time, 33 (14.7%) part-time, and 3 (1.3%) unemployed.[5]

Education

Midhirst School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of students as of [8] The school was founded in 1880.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Peter Dowling (ed.) (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, pp. map 34, ISBN 0-7900-0952-8
  2. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, pp. map 85, ISBN 1-877333-20-4
  3. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  5. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1315.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Midhirst (1315). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^
  7. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1315.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "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. ^ "Ministry of Education" (in en-NZ). www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Education Counts. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  9. ^ "Midhirst School 125th Jubilee", Education Gazette New Zealand. 83 (17), 13 September 2004, archived from the original on 16 October 2008

Further reading

General historical works

  • Alsop, Nancy et al. (1981), "Midhirst School and districts centennial, 1880-1980", Midhirst, [N.Z.] ; Stratford, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee ; Stratford Press
  • Youngman, Reeve (1965), "Perhaps-ies: early days Canterbury and Taranaki", Mt. Maunganui, [N.Z.] ; Hastings, [N.Z.]: R. Youngman ; Hart Printing

Business history

  • "Midhirst Dairy Company, 1895-1945", : Midhirst, [N.Z.]: Midhirst Co-operative Dairy Factory Company, 1945
  • "Midhirst Dairy Company, 1895-1970", : Midhirst, [N.Z.]: n.p., 1970

Maps

  • New Zealand Minimaps Ltd. (2000), "Kiwi minimap New Plymouth, 20 Taranaki towns & district map: includes: Eltham, Hawera, Inglewood, Kaponga, Lepperton, Manaia, Midhirst, Mokau, Normanby, Oakura, Ohawe Beach, Okato, Onaero, Opunake, Patea, Rahotu, Stratford, Urenui, Waitara, Waitotara & Waverley. (4th ed.)", Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Minimaps Ltd.

NOTE: Scale = 1:35,000 and 1:275,000

  • New Zealand Minimaps Ltd. (2001), "Kiwi minimap New Plymouth, 20 Taranaki towns & district map: includes: Eltham, Hawera, Inglewood, Kaponga, Lepperton, Manaia, Midhirst, Mokau, Normanby, Oakura, Ohawe Beach, Okato, Onaero, Opunake, Patea, Rahotu, Stratford, Urenui, Waitara, Waitotara & Waverley. (5th ed.)", Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Minimaps Ltd.

NOTE: Scale = 1:35,000 and 1:275,000

Schools

  • "Midhirst School: 75th anniversary 1880-1955; jubilee celebrations, October 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 1955", n.p.: n.p., n.d.
  • Alsop, Nancy et al. (1981), "Midhirst School and districts centennial, 1880-1980", Midhirst, [N.Z.] ; Stratford, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee ; Stratford Press