Manawatū District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manawatū District
Territorial authority
Rongotea Community Centre and Library (Dec. 2011)
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
Wards	Feilding Rural
Seat	Feilding
Area
• Land	2,566.59 km2 (990.97 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	33,900
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	Map of postcodes
Website	Manawatū District Council

The Manawatū 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 Manawatū River in the south and the Rangitīkei 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 Rangitīkei 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 Manawatū River. It also excludes the area around the city of Palmerston North (including Ashhurst). The district has an area of 2,624 km².

Demographics

Manawatu District covers 2,566.59 km² (990.97 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 33,900 as of June 2023, with a population density of 13.2 people per km². Feilding, the district seat, has a population of 17,750 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.

Manawatu District had a population of 30,165 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,706 people (9.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 4,095 people (15.7%) 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. The median age was 41.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6,282 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 5,004 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 13,473 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,406 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.

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, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,657 (15.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 5,595 (23.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3,549 people (14.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 12,321 (51.6%) people were employed full-time, 3,498 (14.6%) were part-time, and 726 (3.0%) were unemployed.

Tourism

The Manawatū 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 (Manfeild), boutique shopping and historical landmarks and collections.

Manawatū is the location of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's main base, RNZAF Base Ohakea.

Schools

Secondary

• Feilding High School - Feilding
• Hato Paora College - Cheltenham

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Manawatu para niños