Methven, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Methven Piwakawaka (Māori)
Methven town centre
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Ashburton District
Ward	Western
Area
• Total	4.18 km2 (1.61 sq mi)
Elevation	320 m (1,050 ft)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	2,010
• Density	480.9/km2 (1,245/sq mi)
Postcode	7730
Area code	03

Methven (Māori: Piwakawaka) is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located near the western edge of the Canterbury Plains, 35 kilometres north of Ashburton and 95 kilometres west of Christchurch, and at an elevation of 320 m. The town is a service centre for agriculture in the surrounding area, and is a base for skiing at the nearby Mount Hutt skifield. The town slogan is "Amazing Space".

Demographics

Methven is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area, and covers 4.18 km² (1.61 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,970 as of June 2022, with a population density of 471 people per km².

Methven had a population of 1,779 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (3.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 375 people (26.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 723 households. There were 906 males and 873 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. Almost 50% of Methven residents are married and a further 33.7% have never married nor been in a civil union. The median age was 39.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 351 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 318 (17.9%) aged 15 to 29, 843 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 267 (15.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.6% European/Pākehā, 8.4% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 3.5% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 21.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.3% had no religion, 36.9% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 294 (20.6%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 240 (16.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 822 (57.6%) people were employed full-time, 240 (16.8%) were part-time, and 36 (2.5%) were unemployed.

Cairnbrae

Cairnbrae statistical area surrounds but does not include Methven, and covers 542.76 km² (209.56 sq mi) It had an estimated population of 1,630 as of June 2022, with a population density of 3.0 people per km².

Cairnbrae had a population of 1,449 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 45 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 213 people (17.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 546 households. There were 780 males and 663 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.18 males per female. The median age was 35.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 360 people (24.8%) aged under 15 years, 258 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 714 (49.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 117 (8.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.9% European/Pākehā, 5.2% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 13.7% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 25.1%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 42.7% had no religion, 50.7% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 204 (18.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 147 (13.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 669 (61.4%) people were employed full-time, 219 (20.1%) were part-time, and 18 (1.7%) were unemployed.

Other sport and recreation

Methven Town Centre (October 2020)

In addition to skiing, horse riding is popular and there are a number of companies that offer horse treks in and around Methven. Hot air ballooning is also possible to do in Methven. The Methven i-SITE Visitor Centre is located at 160 Main Street, Methven. The Methven skatepark was opened in 2020. It sits in the centre of town in the reserve at Bank and McMillan Streets. Significant local fundraising efforts were required to make the skatepark a reality.

Walking and tramping

Walking and tramping in the hills and mountains surrounding Methven is a popular pastime. Local walks include:

Rakaia Gorge Walkway

The start of the Rakaia Gorge Walkway is an 11-kilometer drive from Methven. The track is 10.4 kilometers there and back which will take the average walker three to four hours to complete the return journey.

Mount Hutt Forest

Short walks in the Mount Hutt Forest (which is 12.5 kilometers from Methven) include the Rhododendron Walk; Te Awa Awa Walk; Alder Track; Opuke Track and the Ridge Track. A longer walk is the Pudding Hill Stream (8.25 kilometers, 3 hours one way) and the Scotts Saddle Track (4.5 kilometers, 2 hours one way)

Mt Alford Conservation Area

The Mt Alford car park is a 12.5-kilometer drive from Methven. The Mt Alford Track itself is a 4.6-kilometer-long track that climbs to the summit of Mt Alford (1,171 m). It takes approximately three hours one way. The tracks are closed each year in September and October during lambing season.

Mt Somers Walk

Slightly further away, Mt Somers can be done as a day trip or a two or three day trip with nights in backcountry huts along the way.

The Methven Walkway

The Methven Walkway is eleven kilometers long and a gentle walk on the flat. Most of the walk is along the Rangitata Diversion Race.

Mountain biking

Bike Methven has developed a range of mountain bike trails around Methven which cover cross-country, enduro, and downhill trails. The Mount Hutt Bike Park is home to 30 kilometres of trails that are within five minutes of Methven.

Education

Methven has three schools.

• Methven Primary School is a state contributing primary (years 1 to 6) school. It has 243 students as of April 2023. There are 25 staff members who work at the school.
• Mount Hutt College is a state Year 7 to 13 secondary school. It has 540 students as of April 2023.
• Our Lady of Snow School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (years 1 to 8) school. It has 33 students as of April 2023.

Notable people

• Sir Graeme Harrison (born 1948), business executive born in Methven and has retired to his birth town
• John Kennedy (1926–1994), journalist born in Methven
• Kathy Lynch (born 1957), competitive cyclist who has retired to Methven
• Dame Lynda Topp of the Topp Twins lives in Methven.

Images for kids

• 

  Statue commemorating the centennial of Methven and Districts (1879–1979)

• 

  The Methven Post Office (October 2020)

• 

  RDR near Methven, looking South

• 

  The Pipe Shed (October 2020)

• 

  Brown Pub, Methven, Mt Hutt in the background (October 2020)

• 

  Blue Pub, Methven,  (October 2020)

• 

  Methven War Memorial

• 

  Mount Hutt Road Board Building (October 2020)

• 

  All Saints Church, Methven (October 2020)