Woodlands, New Zealand

Woodlands
Map
Coordinates: 46°21′18″S 168°33′00″E / 46.355°S 168.550°E / -46.355; 168.550
CountryNew Zealand
RegionSouthland region
Territorial authorities of New ZealandSouthland District
WardWaihopai-Toetoe Ward
Community boardWaihopai-Toetoe Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authoritySouthland District Council
 • Regional councilSouthland Regional Council
 • Mayor of SouthlandRob Scott
 • Invercargill MPPenny Simmonds
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total24.01 km2 (9.27 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total310
 • Density13/km2 (33/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
9871
Area code03

Woodlands is a small town in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island on the banks of the Waihopai River.[3] It is northeast of Invercargill between Dacre and Longbush. Other nearby settlements are Rakahouka to the northwest and Rimu and Waituna to the south.

Demographics

Woodlands is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 24.01 km2 (9.27 sq mi),[1] and had an estimated population of 310 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 13 people per km2. It is part of the wider Edendale-Woodlands statistical area.[4]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006255—    
2013261+0.33%
2018273+0.90%
Source: [5]

Woodlands had a population of 273 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (4.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (7.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 111 households, comprising 141 males and 135 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female, with 51 people (18.7%) aged under 15 years, 39 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 144 (52.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (15.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 87.9% European/Pākehā, 12.1% Māori, 1.1% Pasifika, and 7.7% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 46.2% had no religion, 45.1% were Christian, 1.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 27 (12.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 54 (24.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 33 people (14.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 132 (59.5%) people were employed full-time, 33 (14.9%) were part-time, and 12 (5.4%) were unemployed.[5]

Transport

The town is located on State Highway 1 and the Main South Line portion of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. The railway has been freight-only since the cancellation of the Southerner passenger express on 10 February 2002. During the construction of the Main South Line, Woodlands was briefly a railway terminus. The first section of the line out of Invercargill was opened to Woodlands on 11 February 1874. On 7 June 1875, the next section beyond Woodlands was opened to Mataura via Edendale.[6]

War memorial

A number of Woodlands residents fought overseas in World War I. A memorial to those who died stands in the town.[7]

Education

Woodlands Full Primary School caters for years 1 to 8[8] with a roll of 114 students as of August 2024.[9] The school opened in 1871.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Place name detail: Woodlands". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  4. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Edendale-Woodlands
  5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029309 and 7029312.
  6. ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas, fourth edition, edited by John Yonge (Essex: Quail Map Company, 1993), 30.
  7. ^ Jock Phillips and Chris Maclean, "Woodlands War Memorial", New Zealand History Online, accessed 17 November 2007.
  8. ^ Education Counts: Woodlands Full Primary School
  9. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  10. ^ "About Our School". Woodlands Full Primary School. Retrieved 3 February 2022.