Southland District
Template:Not to be confused with Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Infobox settlement
Southland District is a New Zealand territorial authority district that covers most of the southern end of the South Island as well as Stewart Island.
History
Southland District was formed through the 1989 local government reforms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Four local authorities were amalgamated at that time: Wallace County, Winton Borough, Stewart Island County and most of Southland County. John Casey, who was first elected onto Southland County Council in 1977, oversaw the amalgamation and was elected Southland District's first mayor in 1989.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Winton Wallacetown Ward was renamed Oreti Ward with effect from the Council election on 12 October 2019.<ref>Local Government Commission, 2019</ref> The Ōreti River flows through this ward.
Geography
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Southland District covers the majority of the land area of Southland Region, although the region also covers Gore District, Invercargill City and adjacent territorial waters. It has a land area of Template:Convert, excluding inland waters such as Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri, and Lake Hauroko.
Southland District contains the islands south of Foveaux Strait:
The seat of the district council is Invercargill, which, however, is not part of Southland District, but a territorial authority in its own right.
Two of New Zealand's largest national parks are within the boundaries of Southland District: Fiordland National Park, and Rakiura National Park (which covers most of Stewart Island / Rakiura).
Urban areas and settlements
The Southland District has three towns with a population over 1,000. Together, they are home to Template:Rnd% of the district's population.Template:NZ population data 2018
Other settlements and localities in the district include:
Mararoa Waimea Ward
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- Five Rivers Area:
- Te Anau Area:
- Waikaia Area:
Waiau Aparima Ward
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- Riverton Area:
- Tuatapere Area:
Waihopai Toetoe Ward
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- Toetoes Area:
- Waihopai Area:
- Te Tipua Area:
Oreti Ward
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- Wallacetown Area:
- Winton Area:
Stewart Island-Rakiura Ward
- Oban
- Port Pegasus (uninhabited)
- Port William (uninhabited)
Demographics
Southland District covers Template:Convert<ref name="Area">Template:Cite web</ref> and had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2018 as of Template:NZ population data 2018 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km2.
Template:Historical populations Southland District had a population of 31,833 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 969 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,220 people (7.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 16,533 males, 15,219 females and 78 people of other genders in 13,371 dwellings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6,387 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 5,025 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 14,874 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,544 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.3% European (Pākehā); 13.0% Māori; 1.4% Pasifika; 7.6% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori language by 2.0%, Samoan by 0.2% and other languages by 7.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 31.8% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.7%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 3,174 (12.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 14,385 (56.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 7,026 (27.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 2,211 people (8.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 14,340 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 3,969 (15.6%) were part-time, and 378 (1.5%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">Template:Cite web</ref>
| Name | Area (km2) |
Population | Density (per km2) |
Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mararoa Waimea Ward | 17,419.42 | 8,319 | 0.48 | 3,864 | 41.0 years | $44,900<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Waiau Aparima Ward | 6,405.50 | 8,142 | 1.27 | 3,408 | 41.2 years | $38,500<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Oreti Ward | 1,641.77 | 8,559 | 5.21 | 3,321 | 39.6 years | $47,700<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Waihopai Toetoe Ward | 2,360.78 | 6,324 | 2.68 | 2,481 | 38.9 years | $46,200<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Stewart Island/Rakiura Ward | 1,747.72 | 486 | 0.28 | 297 | 47.4 years | $38,400<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Government
Mayor
The current district mayor is Rob Scott. He has held this position since 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Council
The district council is made up of twelve elected members, from various ward areas, and, like any other local authority, is elected every three years.
Sister cities
Current sister city
- Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Liguria<ref>Cinque Terre Sister City agreement to be signed on Thursday (Southland District Council press release 24 March 2009)</ref>
Former sister city
Southland District was a sister city to Wyong Shire in New South Wales, Australia until 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
References
External links
Template:Adjacent communities Template:Southland District Template:Cities and districts of New Zealand