South Taranaki District


South Taranaki is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island that contains the towns of Hāwera, Manaia, Opunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley. The District has a land area of 3,575.46 km² and a population of 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 Patea 10 miles way celebrating Taranaki Anniversary Day in March.
Council facilities include the South Taranaki LibraryPlus, Mania, Kaponga, Patea, Eltham, Opunake, Hāwera and Waverley libraries.

Demographics

South Taranaki District had a population of 27,534 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 954 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,047 people since the 2006 census. There were 10,668 households. There were 13,971 males and 13,566 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. Of the total population, 6,219 people were aged up to 15 years, 4,719 were 15 to 29, 12,264 were 30 to 64, and 4,332 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
Ethnicities were 80.6% European/Pākehā, 27.6% Māori, 2.2% Pacific peoples, 3.4% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 8.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 51.0% had no religion, 35.8% were Christian, and 4.6% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 2,007 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 6,162 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,800. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 10,398 people were employed full-time, 3,051 were part-time, and 942 were unemployed.

Mayor

The current mayor is Phil Nixon. The deputy mayor is Robert Northcott.