Heidelberg, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heidelberg
|
|
|---|---|
|
Suburb
|
|
 Heidelberg
Location in New Zealand
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Invercargill City |
| Area | |
| • Land | 131 ha (324 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
|
|
| • Total | 2,260 |
  Heidelberg, New Zealand  |
||
Heidelberg is a suburb in the southern New Zealand city of Invercargill. It is located to the southeast of the city centre. This area is mostly residential, meaning many people live here.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Heidelberg
The area was first called Conyerstown by its original European owner, Thomas Agnew. Later, he sold the land to two settlers, Joseph and Martin Metzger. Both of them had connections to a city called Heidelberg in Germany. This is how the suburb got its current name.
Exploring Heidelberg: Key Places to See
Heidelberg has several important features that make it special.
- Elizabeth Park: This is a local park where people can relax and play.
- Aurora College: A secondary school for students in years 7 to 13.
- Murihiku Marae: One of the main marae (Māori meeting grounds) in Invercargill.
The suburb is generally bordered by Regent Street in the east and Pomona Street in the west. To the north and south, it is bounded by Centre Street and Tramway Road.
Murihiku Marae: A Special Meeting Place
Murihiku Marae is a very important place in Heidelberg. It is a marae, which is a traditional Māori meeting ground. This specific marae belongs to the Waihōpai Rūnanga branch of Ngāi Tahu, a major Māori iwi (tribe). The marae includes a wharenui (meeting house) called Te Rakitauneke. Marae are central to Māori culture and community life.
Who Lives in Heidelberg?
Heidelberg covers an area of about 1.31 square kilometres. As of 2023, it has an estimated population of 2,260 people. This means there are about 1725 people living in each square kilometre.
In 2018, using a slightly larger boundary, Heidelberg had 2,601 residents. This was a small increase from previous years. There were 957 households in the area. The population included 1,230 males and 1,377 females.
Age and Background of Residents
About 23.9% of the people in Heidelberg were under 15 years old in 2018. Around 19.8% were aged 15 to 29. The largest group, about 40%, were aged 30 to 64. About 16.4% were 65 or older.
The main ethnic groups living in Heidelberg in 2018 were:
It's important to remember that people can identify with more than one ethnicity. About 10.1% of residents were born outside New Zealand.
Religious Beliefs
When asked about their religious beliefs in 2018, 54.0% of people in Heidelberg said they had no religion. About 33.4% were Christian. Smaller numbers followed Māori religious beliefs, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or other religions.
Learning in Heidelberg: Local Schools
Heidelberg is home to two important schools:
- Aurora College: This is a state secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 13. It has about 597 students. Aurora College was formed in 2005 when two older schools, Mt Anglern College and Tweedsmuir Junior High School, merged. Mt Anglern College itself was created from the merger of Kingswell and Cargill high schools in 1998.
- St Patrick's School: This is a state-integrated Catholic primary school. It teaches students from Year 1 to Year 6. The school opened in 1944 and has about 270 students.
