Portland, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portland
|
|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland Region |
| District | Whangarei District |
| Ward | Bream Bay Ward |
| Electorates |
|
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.12 km2 (4.68 sq mi) |
| Population
(2023 Census)
|
|
| • Total | 483 |
| • Density | 39.85/km2 (103.21/sq mi) |
Portland is a locality on the western side of Whangārei Harbour in Northland, New Zealand. Whangārei is about 10 km to the north. Tikorangi is a hill to the west with a summit 161 m above sea level.
The major industry is Portland Cement, which is New Zealand's largest cement manufacturer. It has a specialised loading dock on the harbour, and quarries Tikorangi for lime.
History
The Portland Cement Works, which started on Limestone Island in Whangārei Harbour in 1885, moved to Portland in 1916. The Cement works is now owned by Golden Bay Cement, a division of Fletcher Building.
Dominion Cement built a mile-long pier of disused tram rails in 1913.
The town had a railway station on the North Auckland Line from 1918 to 1975.
Demographics
Portland is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 12.12 km2 (4.68 sq mi). The SA1 areas are part of the larger Otaika-Portland statistical area.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 399 | — |
| 2013 | 333 | −2.55% |
| 2018 | 441 | +5.78% |
| 2023 | 483 | +1.84% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 11.96 km2 | ||
Portland had a population of 483 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (9.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 150 people (45.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 246 males and 237 females in 141 dwellings. 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 99 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 102 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 216 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (12.4%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.7% European (Pākehā), 42.9% Māori, 5.6% Pasifika, 0.6% Asian, and 1.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.7%, Māori language by 7.5%, and other languages by 3.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 9.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 27.3% Christian, 3.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% New Age, 0.6% Jewish, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.7%, and 4.3% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (10.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 225 (58.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 99 (25.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 30 people (7.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 183 (47.7%) people were employed full-time, 57 (14.8%) were part-time, and 15 (3.9%) were unemployed.
Education
Portland School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 80 students as of February 2024.
