Harwood, New Zealand

Harwood
Interactive map of Harwood
Coordinates: 45°48′50″S 170°40′37″E / 45.814°S 170.677°E / -45.814; 170.677
CountryNew Zealand
RegionOtago
Territorial authorityDunedin
Community boardOtago Peninsula Community Board[1][2]
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityDunedin City Council
 • Regional councilOtago Regional Council
 • Mayor of DunedinSophie Barker[3]
 • Dunedin MPRachel Brooking
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total
1.51 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[4]
 • Total
240
 • Density160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Harwood is a rural settlement on the northern side of the Otago Peninsula.[6] It is within the boundaries of Dunedin city in New Zealand.

Before 2000, most of the houses were cribs, but they have since been upgraded and become permanent residences.[7]

The area is named for Octavius Harwood and his family, who moved here from Otakou in the 1870s and farmed cattle.[8]

Demographics

Harwood is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 1.51 km2 (0.58 sq mi),[5] and had an estimated population of 240 as of June 2025,[4] with a population density of 159 people per km2. It is part of the much larger Otago Peninsula statistical area.[9]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006216—    
2013207−0.61%
2018231+2.22%
Source: [10]

Harwood had a population of 231 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (11.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 15 people (6.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 108 households, comprising 114 males and 117 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 53.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 39 people (16.9%) aged under 15 years, 21 (9.1%) aged 15 to 29, 114 (49.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (26.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.5% European/Pākehā, 16.9% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 0.0% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 68.8% had no religion, 15.6% were Christian, 1.3% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 39 (20.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 42 (21.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $23,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (7.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 69 (35.9%) people were employed full-time, 39 (20.3%) were part-time, and 9 (4.7%) were unemployed.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Otago Peninsula Community Board | Community Plan 2019 – 2020" (PDF). dunedin.govt.nz. Dunedin City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. ^ "2016 Otago Peninsula Community Board Boundary" (PDF). dunedin.govt.nz. Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  3. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. ^ Harriss, Gavin (November 2021). Harwood, Otago (Map). NZ Topomap.
  7. ^ McAvinue, Shawn (6 January 2017). "Every day's a holiday in Harwood". Otago Daily Times.
  8. ^ "Octavius Harwood". Toitū Otago Settlers Museum. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  9. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Otago Peninsula
  10. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7028247.