Whanganui District
Territorial authority district
Whanganui River Bridge View from Helicopter
Whanganui River Bridge View from Helicopter
Coordinates: 39°38′S 175°08′E / 39.64°S 175.14°E / -39.64; 175.14
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
SeatWhanganui
Government
 • MayorAndrew Tripe
 • Deputy MayorHelen Craig
 • Territorial authorityWhanganui District Council
Area
[1]
 • Land2,373.27 km2 (916.32 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total48,900
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
Map of postcodes
Websitewww.whanganui.govt.nz

Whanganui District is one of the districts of New Zealand. It includes the city of Whanganui and surrounding areas.

Geography

Formerly spelled "Wanganui", the Whanganui District Council resulted from the amalgamation of Wanganui and Waitotara county councils and Wanganui City Council. The district has an area of 2,373 km². Much of the land in Whanganui District is rough hill country surrounding the valley of the Whanganui River. A large proportion of this is within the Whanganui National Park.

In 2015 the New Zealand Geographic Board, at the request of the Wanganui District Council, changed the name of the district from Wanganui District to Whanganui District, bringing the name in line with the spelling of the river.[3]

Demographics

Whanganui District covers 2,373.27 km2 (916.32 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 48,900 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 21 people per km2. All but some 6,100 people in the Whanganui District live in the city itself, meaning there are few prominent outlying settlements. A small but notable village is Jerusalem.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200642,636—    
201342,153−0.16%
201845,309+1.45%
Source: [4]

Whanganui District had a population of 45,309 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3,156 people (7.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,673 people (6.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 18,057 households, comprising 21,912 males and 23,397 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.94 males per female. The median age was 43.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 8,937 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 7,692 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 19,371 (42.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 9,309 (20.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 79.2% European/Pākehā, 26.3% Māori, 3.6% Pacific peoples, 4.1% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.3% had no religion, 37.3% were Christian, 3.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 5,130 (14.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 8,427 (23.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3,300 people (9.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 15,159 (41.7%) people were employed full-time, 5,406 (14.9%) were part-time, and 1,866 (5.1%) were unemployed.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ↑ Sachdeva, Sam (17 November 2015). "Wanganui to become Whanganui". Stuff. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Whanganui District (037). 2018 Census place summary: Whanganui District
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