Manawatu District


The Manawatu District is a local government district in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region in the North Island of New Zealand.
The district is based on the town of Feilding and includes most of the area between the Manawatu River in the south and the Rangitikei River in the north; stretching from slightly south of the settlement of Himatangi in the south, to just south of Mangaweka in the north; and from the Rangitikei River to the summits of the Ruahine Ranges in the east. The district does not include the area around Foxton, Foxton Beach or the mouth of the Manawatu River. It also excludes the area around the city of Palmerston North. The district has an area of 2,624 km².

Name

Manawatu is said to have been named by Hau, a great Māori explorer. When searching for his wife who had left him for another lover, Hau is said to have pursued her along the south west coast of the North Island. As he travelled, he came across and named river mouths including Whanganui, Whangaehu and Rangitikei according to events that befell him at the time. He came across a large, wide river mouth. In awe of the sight and in fear he might not be able to cross it, he stated "Ka tū taku manawa".
The term Manawatu also refers to the whole geographical region centred on the floodplain of the Manawatu River, with Palmerston North as its principal city. Like several other geographical regions in New Zealand, such as Wairarapa and the King Country, the Manawatu in this sense never had precisely defined borders, its extents determined largely by custom and preference. Always included however are Palmerston North and all of today's Manawatu district and usually included is that part of Horowhenua district lying north of Levin. Parts of Rangitikei and/or Tararua districts might also be included.

Population

The district has a population of as of. Feilding, the district seat, has a population of and is the only town in the district with a population over 1,000. Other towns and settlements in the district include Halcombe, Himatangi Beach, Kimbolton, Pohangina, Rongotea, Sanson, and Tangimoana.

Demographics

Manawatu District had a population of 30,165 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,706 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 4,095 people since the 2006 census. There were 11,193 households. There were 14,943 males and 15,222 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. Of the total population, 6,282 people were aged up to 15 years, 5,004 were 15 to 29, 13,473 were 30 to 64, and 5,406 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
Ethnicities were 89.2% European/Pākehā, 16.5% Māori, 2.0% Pacific peoples, 2.6% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 52.4% had no religion, 35.4% were Christian, and 3.6% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 3,657 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 5,595 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,400. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 12,321 people were employed full-time, 3,498 were part-time, and 726 were unemployed.

Local government

District Council

Manawatu District Council was formed by the amalgamation of the Feilding Borough, Kiwitea County, Manawatu District, Oroua County and Pohangina County Councils in the 1989 local government reforms.
For the purposes of representation, Manawatu District is divided into three wards:
Ward nameNumber of councillorsArea included
Feilding5Feilding
Kairanga3Rongotea, Sanson, Himatangi Beach, Ohakea, Bainesse, Kairanga, Karere, Tangimoana.
Kiwitea-Pohangina2Kimbolton, Halcombe, Cheltenham, Waituna West, Rangiwahia, Apiti.

The council is responsible for day-to-day administration and services:
was first elected mayor in a by-election in November 2002. After being elected to Parliament in the, he resigned from the mayoralty on 15 December 2011. Deputy Mayor Matt Bell was then acting mayor until a by-election held on 7 March 2012. The by-election was narrowly won by Margaret Kouvelis from Feilding, who beat councillor Steven Gibson by just 14 votes. Helen Worboys won the mayoralty from the incumbent Margaret Kouvelis in the 2016 Local Government elections.

Horizons Regional Council

Manawatu District is in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region, which is governed by the Horizons Regional Council. For electoral and representation purposes, the district is divided into:
The Manawatu district includes both plains and hills, and is visited by cyclists and others for the views of the Central North Island volcanoes on clear days. The western coast has swimming beaches and large sand dunes, while the Ruahine Ranges in the east has walking tracks and views over the district from the Wharite mountain or from the Saddle Road.
In the middle of the district is Feilding, with its saleyards, equestrian and motorsport venue, boutique shopping and historical landmarks and collections.
Manawatu is the location of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's main base, RNZAF Base Ohakea.

Schools

Secondary
Secondary
Primary