South Taranaki District

{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox settlement  | name = South Taranaki District | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = Territorial authority district | image_skyline = Hawera.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Hāwera | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = South Taranaki in the North Island.svg | mapsize = | map_caption = South Taranaki district within the North Island | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|format=dms|region:NZ-WKO_type:adm2nd|display=title,inline}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Taranaki | subdivision_type2 = Wards | subdivision_name2 = {{ubl|Taranaki Coastal||Eltham-Kaponga|Te Hāwera|Pātea|Te Kūrae (Māori)|Te Tai Tonga (Māori)}} | established_title = | established_date = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Phil Nixon<ref name="P Nixon">{{cite web|url=https://www.southtaranaki.com/repository/libraries/id:27mlbegko1cxbyf94es5/hierarchy/Documents/Elections%202025/South%20Taranaki%20District%20Council%20-%20Declaration%20notice%20-%20final.pdf|title=Declaration of Results of Election and Poll|publisher=South Taranaki District Council|date=17 October 2025}}</ref> | leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = Territorial authority | leader_name2 = South Taranaki District Council | unit_pref = Metric   | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_magnitude =  | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = 3575.08 | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_rural_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank2_title =  | area_note = | dimensions_footnotes = | length_km = | width_km = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|South Taranaki district|y}} | population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}} | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}} | timezone1 = NZST | utc_offset1 = +12 | timezone1_DST = NZDT | utc_offset1_DST = +13 | postal_code_type = Postcode(s) | postal_code = [http://www.nzpost.co.nz/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/postcodemaps/south-taranaki-district.pdf Map of postcodes] | area_code = | area_code_type = | iso_code = | website = {{Official URL}} | area_urban_footnotes =  | area_rural_footnotes =  | area_metro_footnotes =  }}

'''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, Pātea, Eltham, and Waverley. The District has a land area of 3,575.46 km2 (1,380.49 sq mi) and a population of {{NZ population data 2018|South Taranaki district|y|y|y|(|).}} It is part of the greater Taranaki Region.

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 Pātea 15 kilometres away celebrating Taranaki Anniversary Day in March.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

Council facilities include the South Taranaki LibraryPlus which includes libraries in Manaia, Kaponga, Pātea, Eltham, Opunake, Hāwera and Waverley.<ref>{{Cite web|title = South Taranaki LibraryPlus|url = http://www.southtaranaki.com/Live/LibraryPlus|website = South Taranaki District Council|access-date = 9 February 2016}}</ref>

== History == The South Taranaki District was established as part of the 1989 local government reforms, merging Egmont, Eltham, Hawera, Pātea and Waimate West counties.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Determination of representation arrangements to apply for the election of South Taranaki District Council to be held on 12 October 2019|url=http://www.lgc.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/LGC-determination-South-Taranaki-DC2.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=1 February 2021|website=Local Government Commission}}</ref>

==Demographics== South Taranaki District covers {{Convert|3575.08|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=5 March 2022|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|South Taranaki district|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|South Taranaki district|y}}|R}}/3575.08|1}} people per km2.

{{Historical populations|2006|26,487|2013|26,580|2018|27,534|2023|29,025|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|South Taranaki District (035)|south-taranaki-district|South Taranaki District}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>}}

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=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%2Bdo1.035%2Bw_03501%2Bw_03502%2Bw_03503%2Bw_03504.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

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.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.035.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=South Taranaki District (035)}}</ref> thumb|Population density in the 2023 census {| class="wikitable" |+Individual wards |- !Name !! Area (km2) !! Population !! Density (per km2) || Dwellings !! Median age !! Median income |- | Taranaki Coastal General Ward || style="text-align:right;"|805.54 || style="text-align:right;"|6,387 || style="text-align:right;"|7.9 || style="text-align:right;"|2,421 || 38.2 years || $37,100<ref>{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.w_03501.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Taranaki Coastal General Ward}}</ref> |- | Eltham-Kaponga General Ward || style="text-align:right;"|620.48 || style="text-align:right;"|4,782 || style="text-align:right;"|7.7 || style="text-align:right;"|1,806 || 38.3 years || $38,600<ref>{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.w_03502.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Eltham-Kaponga General Ward}}</ref> |- | Te Hāwera General Ward || style="text-align:right;"|481.06 || style="text-align:right;"|13,821 || style="text-align:right;"|28.7 || style="text-align:right;"|5,247 || 39.8 years || $37,600<ref>{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.w_03503.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Te Hāwera General Ward}}</ref> |- | Pātea General Ward || style="text-align:right;"|1,668.00 || style="text-align:right;"|4,035 || style="text-align:right;"|2.4 || style="text-align:right;"|1,728 || 43.9 years || $31,800<ref>{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.w_03504.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Pātea General Ward}}</ref> |- ! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! 38.1 years !! style="text-align:left;"| $41,500 |}

==Government== The current mayor is Phil Nixon.<ref name="P Nixon"/>

== Economy == The South Taranaki District has a modelled gross domestic product (GDP) of $2,861 million in the year to March 2024, 0.6% of New Zealand's national GDP. The GDP per capita is $96,867, the second-highest of all territorial authorities (only behind Wellington City).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modelled Territorial Authority GDP 2025 release {{!}} Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment |url=https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/economic-growth/regional-economic-development/modelled-territorial-authority-gross-domestic-product/2025-release |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=www.mbie.govt.nz}}</ref> Major industries in the district include dairy farming, meat and meat product manufacturing, dairy product manufacturing, and oil and gas extraction.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.southtaranaki.com South Taranaki District Council]

{{Adjacent communities | title = Adjacent cities and districts | Centre = South Taranaki | N = New Plymouth, Stratford | E = Whanganui | S = ''South Taranaki Bight'' | W = ''Tasman Sea'' }} {{South Taranaki District}} {{Cities and districts of New Zealand}}

Category:South Taranaki District