View source for Winton, New Zealand

{{Short description|Town in Southland, New Zealand}}{{more citations needed|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                   = Winton
|official_name          =
|other_name             =
|native_name            = 
|nickname               =
|settlement_type        = [[Urban areas of New Zealand|Minor urban area]] <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc.-->
|total_type             = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
|motto                  = The Heart of Southland
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = New Zealand
|subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Southland Region|Southland]] region
|subdivision_type2      = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Southland District]]
|subdivision_type3      = Ward
|subdivision_name3      = Oreti Ward
|subdivision_type5      = Community
|subdivision_name5      = Oreti Community
|seat_type              = Electorates
|seat                   = {{ubl|[[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Southland]]|[[Te Tai Tonga]] (Māori)}}
|leader_title           = {{nowrap|Territorial authority}}
|leader_name            = [[Southland District Council]]
|leader_title1          = Regional council
|leader_name1           = [[Southland Regional Council]]
|leader_title2          = [[Mayor of Southland]]
|leader_name2           = {{NZ officeholder data|Southland District Mayor|y}}
|leader_title3          = [[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Southland MP]]
|leader_name3           = {{NZ officeholder data|Southland MP|y}}
|leader_title4          = [[Te Tai Tonga|Te Tai Tonga MP]]
|leader_name4           = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}}
|established_title      = Settled 
|established_date       = c. 1861 by Thomas Winton
|established_title1     = 
|established_date1      = 
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude         =
|unit_pref              = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial  before metric-->
|area_footnotes         = <ref name="Area"/>
|area_urban_km2         = 
|area_urban_footnotes   =
|area_land_km2          = 3.08<!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion-->
|area_water_km2         =
|area_total_sq_mi       =
|area_land_sq_mi        =
|area_water_sq_mi       =
|area_water_percent     =
<!-- Elevation -------------------------->
|elevation_footnotes    = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m            = 51
|elevation_ft           =
|elevation_max_m        =  
|elevation_max_ft       =
|elevation_min_m        = 
|elevation_min_ft       =
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_total       = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Winton|y}}
|population_as_of       = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y}}
|population_footnotes   = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2||||y}}
|population_note        =
|population_urban       = 
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_urban_km2 = 
|population_metro       = 
|population_blank1_title = [[Demonym]]
|population_blank1      = Wintonian
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone               = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]]
|utc_offset             = +12
|timezone_DST           = NZDT
|utc_offset_DST         = +13
|image_map              = {{Infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|46|08|35|S|168|19|25|E}}|zoom=8}}
|coordinates            = {{coord|46|08|35|S|168|19|25|E|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|blank_name             = Local [[iwi]]
|blank_info             = [[Ngāi Tahu]]
|postal_code_type       = Postcode(s)
|postal_code            = 9720
|area_code              = 03
|website                = http://www.winton.co.nz
|footnotes              =
}}

'''Winton''' is a rural town in [[Southland, New Zealand]]. It is located close to the east bank of the [[Ōreti River]], 30 kilometres north of [[Invercargill]] and 50 kilometres south of [[Lumsden, New Zealand|Lumsden]]. The town is named after Thomas Winton, a local stockman who lived and farmed in the area in the 1850s. The district thrived with the development of sheep and fat-lamb farms in the early 1900s. Later, dairy farming became the staple economy, although the town has also seen sawmills, and flax and linen-flax industries.

Today, Winton is as an agricultural service town for local farmers and traders and as a stop-off for travellers on the [[Invercargill]]–[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]] highway. Its population is not declining, partly because farmers retire there, attracted by a climate that is warmer, drier and calmer than Invercargill or Southland’s coastal districts.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Grant|first=David|title='Southland places - Central Southland'|url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/southland-places/6|encyclopedia=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 2-Mar-09|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref> Population increases have also been driven by an influx of dairy workers who have migrated with their families from countries such as the [[Philippines]] and the [[Netherlands]]. Local businesses, worship centres and schools have welcomed the new community members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southland town hit with influx of Filipino workers|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Southland-town-hit-with-influx-of-Filipino-workers/tabid/423/articleID/249694/Default.aspx|work=3 News|publisher=MediaWorks TV|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>

{{NZlSH|6}} passes through the town between Queenstown and Invercargill. {{NZlSH|96}}, a regional highway, connects east to the town of [[Mataura]] and west to [[Ohai]].
 
==History==
Winton was formerly a [[railway]] junction but is no longer served by any trains.  On 22 February 1871, a railway line from Invercargill was opened to Winton, built to the international [[standard gauge]] of 1,435mm.  This was the furthest extent of Southland's standard gauge network, and the next section to Caroline was built to New Zealand's national [[track gauge]], {{RailGauge|3ft6in}} [[narrow gauge railway]].  This extension opened on 20 October 1875, ending Winton's 4.5 years as a railway terminus, and two months later, the line back to Invercargill was converted to 1,067mm gauge.  This line grew to be the [[Kingston Branch (New Zealand)|Kingston Branch]].  In 1883, a [[List of New Zealand railway lines#Bush tramways|bush tramway]] was built eastwards from Winton, and in the 1890s, it was rebuilt to railway standards as a [[branch line]] and opened as the [[Hedgehope Branch]] on 17 July 1899.  It established Winton as a railway junction, and the town functioned in this capacity until 1 January 1968, when the Hedgehope Branch closed.  The Kingston line, once one of the more important lines in the country, declined during the 1970s, and most of it closed on 13 December 1982, including the portion through Winton.  Today, little remains of Winton's railway, though its route can be discerned.

==Demographics==
Winton covers {{Convert|3.08|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=2 February 2022|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Winton|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Winton|y}}|R}}/3.08|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|2,094|2013|2,220|2018|2,337|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}}
Winton had a population of 2,337 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 117 people (5.3%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 243 people (11.6%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 1,017 households, comprising 1,104 males and 1,233 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female. The median age was 44.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 438 people (18.7%) aged under 15 years, 348 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 921 (39.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 624 (26.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.9% European/[[Pākehā]], 11.0% [[Māori people|Māori]], 1.8% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]], 2.7% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.6% had no religion, 43.1% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.5% had [[Religion of Māori people|Māori religious beliefs]], 0.1% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.4% were [[Islam in New Zealand|Muslim]], 0.4% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 201 (10.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 600 (31.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 258 people (13.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 846 (44.5%) people were employed full-time, 294 (15.5%) were part-time, and 45 (2.4%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Winton (358600)|winton|Winton}}</ref>

==Education==

Winton School is a full primary school serving years 1 to 8<ref>{{TKI|4052|Winton School}}</ref> and had a roll of {{NZ school roll data|4052|y}}. A school existed in Winton from 1868,<ref name="Winton School"/> but 1870 is considered the starting date for this school.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.winton.school.nz/about-us|title=About Winton School|publisher=Winton School|access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref> It shared a site with Winton District High School from 1901 to 1908 and from 1927 to 1964.<ref name="Winton School">{{cite web|url=http://archives.ilibrary.co.nz/repositories/icla/resources/winton_school_includes_some_records_from_winton_di|title=Winton School [includes some records from Winton District High School]|publisher=Invercargill Archives|access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=[[The Cyclopedia of New Zealand]]|volume=Otago & Southland Provincial Districts|year=1905|title=The Winton District High School}}</ref> The current school opened in 1965.<ref name="About Central Southland College">{{cite web |title=About Central Southland College |url=https://www.csc.school.nz/about-us |website=csc.school.nz |publisher=Central Southland College}}</ref>

Central Southland College takes students from across Central Southland, including Winton, [[Otautau]], [[Nightcaps, New Zealand|Nightcaps]], [[Ohai]], [[Dipton, New Zealand|Dipton]], and [[Hedgehope, New Zealand|Hedgehope]], together with a large area of farmland. The school community is about 12% Māori. The Year 9 to 13 school and had a roll of {{NZ school roll data|399|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}} The College opened in 1965 after the Winton District High School separated from the primary school.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.ilibrary.co.nz/repositories/icla/resources/central_southland_college|title=Central Southland College|publisher=Invercargill Archives|access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{TKI|399|Central Southland College}}</ref>

St Thomas Aquinas School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary school serving years 1 to 8<ref>{{TKI|4023|St Thomas School}}</ref> and had a roll of {{NZ school roll data|4023|y}}. The school opened in 1898 and was rebuilt in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mercyschools.org.nz/featured_item/st-thomas-school-winton/|title=St Thomas’ School, Winton|publisher=Mercy Schools|access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{more sources|section|date=February 2022}}
The climate in Winton is temperate. It is generally warmer, drier and calmer than Invercargill or Southland’s coastal districts. There is a great deal of rainfall in Winton, even in the driest month. According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as 'oceanic' with high humidity year round. The average annual temperature in Winton is 9.9&nbsp;°C and in a year, the average rainfall is 912&nbsp;mm. The driest month is August, with 55&nbsp;mm of rain. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in January, with an average of 96&nbsp;mm. January is the warmest month of the year with the temperature in averaging 14.5&nbsp;°C. The lowest average temperatures in the year occur in July, when it is around 4.8&nbsp;°C. There is a difference of 41&nbsp;mm of precipitation between the driest and wettest months. The variation in temperatures throughout the year is 9.7&nbsp;°C. Winton's highest temperature on record is {{convert|35.0|C}}, which was recorded on 14 January 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand Climate Summary: Summer 2017-18 |url=https://www.niwa.co.nz/files/Climate_Summary_Summer_2018.pdf |website=NIWA |access-date=20 August 2018}}</ref> 

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Winton (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1965–2019)
| Jan record high C = 35.0
| Feb record high C = 32.8
| Mar record high C = 32.0
| Apr record high C = 27.0
| May record high C = 23.0
| Jun record high C = 20.0
| Jul record high C = 18.3
| Aug record high C = 19.0
| Sep record high C = 23.6
| Oct record high C = 29.0
| Nov record high C = 28.8
| Dec record high C = 30.5
| year record high C = 35.0
|Jan high C = 	20.5
|Feb high C = 	20.3
|Mar high C = 	18.7
|Apr high C = 	15.9
|May high C = 	13.2
|Jun high C = 	10.4
|Jul high C = 	10.2
|Aug high C = 	11.8
|Sep high C = 	13.9
|Oct high C = 	15.5
|Nov high C = 	17.0
|Dec high C = 	19.3
| year high C = 	
|Jan mean C = 	15.0
|Feb mean C = 	14.7
|Mar mean C = 	13.1
|Apr mean C = 	10.8
|May mean C = 	8.5
|Jun mean C = 	6.2
|Jul mean C = 	5.7
|Aug mean C = 	7.0
|Sep mean C = 	8.9
|Oct mean C = 	10.4
|Nov mean C = 	11.8
|Dec mean C = 	13.9
| year mean C = 	
|Jan low C = 	9.4
|Feb low C = 	9.1
|Mar low C = 	7.5
|Apr low C = 	5.7
|May low C = 	3.9
|Jun low C = 	1.9
|Jul low C = 	1.2
|Aug low C = 	2.3
|Sep low C = 	3.9
|Oct low C = 	5.3
|Nov low C = 	6.6
|Dec low C = 	8.5
| year low C = 	
|Jan record low C  = -0.6
|Feb record low C  = -0.1
|Mar record low C  = -2.2
|Apr record low C  = -5.4
|May record low C  =  -5.0
|Jun record low C  = -6.8
|Jul record low C  = -8.3
|Aug record low C  = -6.0
|Sep record low C  = -5.4
|Oct record low C  = -3.0
|Nov record low C  = -1.4
|Dec record low C  = -1.2
|year record low C = -8.3
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 	97.7
|Feb rain mm = 	73.8
|Mar rain mm = 	77.2
|Apr rain mm = 	78.4
|May rain mm = 	97.9
|Jun rain mm = 	82.0
|Jul rain mm = 	67.7
|Aug rain mm = 	66.3
|Sep rain mm = 	70.8
|Oct rain mm = 	88.3
|Nov rain mm = 	85.3
|Dec rain mm = 	83.1
|year rain mm = 	
|Jan sun = 	173.1
|Feb sun = 	165.4
|Mar sun = 	148.3
|Apr sun = 	127.3
|May sun = 	85.6
|Jun sun = 	82.6
|Jul sun = 	103.8
|Aug sun = 	117.2
|Sep sun = 	137.2
|Oct sun = 	169.0
|Nov sun = 	169.6
|Dec sun = 	157.3
|year sun = 	
| Jan percentsun  =36
| Feb percentsun  =42
| Mar percentsun  =39
| Apr percentsun  =39
| May percentsun  =29
| Jun percentsun  =32
| Jul percentsun  =37
| Aug percentsun  =37
| Sep percentsun  =39
| Oct percentsun  =41
| Nov percentsun  =38
| Dec percentsun  =32
| year percentsun =
| Jan light = 15.3
| Feb light = 14.0
| Mar light = 12.4
| Apr light = 10.8
| May light = 9.4
| Jun light = 8.7
| Jul light = 9.0
| Aug light = 10.2
| Sep light = 11.8
| Oct light = 13.4
| Nov light = 14.9
| Dec light = 15.7
| year light=
|source 1 = NIWA<ref name= NIWA>
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Winton 2
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 19 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=NIWA2>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 5768)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 5 Jul 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = Weather Spark<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://weatherspark.com/y/144789/Average-Weather-in-Winton-New-Zealand-Year-Round
|title = Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Winton
|publisher = Weather Spark
|access-date = 10 Dec 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Notable people==
{{maincat|People from Winton, New Zealand}}
* [[Minnie Dean]], the only woman ever hanged in New Zealand, is buried in Winton cemetery<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/southland/41318/mystery-headstone-dean039s-grave|title=Mystery headstone on Dean's grave|last=Hamish|first=McNeilly|date=30 January 2009|work=[[Otago Daily Times]]|access-date=2009-02-11}}</ref>
* [[David Hall (rugby union)|David Hall]], Southland rugby union player, was born in Winton
* Dr Harrison Fellowes,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Doctors |url=https://greenwoodmedical.co.nz/our-team/our-doctors/}}</ref> General Practitioner from Winton, now practising in Auckland

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Southland District}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Southland Region]]