Wakefield, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wakefield
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Town
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Edward St, the main street of Wakefield
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Territorial authority | Tasman |
| Ward | Moutere-Waimea Ward |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 9.92 km2 (3.83 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 2,680 |
| • Density | 270.2/km2 (699.7/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Area code | 03 |
Wakefield is a town in the Tasman District of New Zealand's South Island. It is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Nelson. In the Māori language, it is called Tiraweke or Wekipira.
The town started in 1843 and was first named Pitfure. The name changed to Wakefield soon after. It might have been named after a settler's hometown in Yorkshire, England. Another idea is that it was named after Captain Arthur Wakefield. He led the group that founded Nelson City and Province. Captain Wakefield died in the Wairau Affray, which might have made the name change more certain.
The Tasman District Council is in charge of Wakefield. Their main offices are in the nearby town of Richmond. Wakefield is also part of the West Coast-Tasman general electorate, which is a voting area.
One of New Zealand's oldest churches is in Wakefield. It is called St John's Church and was built in 1846. The church is a very important historical building. It was designed by Marianne Reay, making it the first European building in New Zealand designed by a woman.
People of Wakefield
The Wakefield area covers about 9.92 square kilometers (3.83 square miles). As of June 2023, , about 2,680 people live here. This means there are about 270 people for every square kilometer.
In 2018, Wakefield had 2,448 people living there. This was an increase of 147 people since 2013. The population has grown by 474 people since 2006. There were 864 homes in the town. There were slightly more females than males.
The average age of people in Wakefield was 41.5 years. About 22.5% of the people were under 15 years old. About 14.1% were between 15 and 29 years old. Most people, 47.8%, were between 30 and 64 years old. About 15.7% were 65 years or older.
Most people in Wakefield are of European background (96.6%). About 7.6% are Māori. Smaller numbers of people are from Pacific Islands, Asia, or other ethnic groups. Some people identify with more than one ethnic group.
About 16.5% of people in Wakefield were born outside New Zealand. This is less than the national average of 27.1%.
When asked about their religion, most people (60.7%) said they had no religion. About 28.9% were Christian. A small number of people followed Māori religious beliefs, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, or other religions.
About 14.2% of adults had a university degree or higher. About 19.6% had no formal qualifications. The average income was $32,500. Many people (51.6%) worked full-time. About 15.7% worked part-time, and 2.4% were unemployed.
Education in Wakefield
Wakefield School is a public primary school for students in Year 1 to Year 6. As of February 2024, it has 234 students.
The school was started in 1843 by Mary Ann Baigent. She was the wife of Edward Baigent. Wakefield School might be the oldest school in New Zealand that has been open continuously since it started.
Images for kids
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A tree sculpture in Wakefield
