Springvale, New Zealand

Springvale is a suburb of Whanganui, in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

An extension to the residential urban boundary was proposed in 2018 to provide homes for another 575 homes.^[3] The extension faced opposition.^[4]

As of 2018, homes in Springvale are among the fastest selling in the country, with the average house taking just 12 days to sell.^[5]

In 2019, Whanganui Māori proposed naming a new street Te Repo to recognise the wetlands that previously existed in the area, but the road was ultimately named after local sculptor Joan Morrell.^[6]

Springvale Park is Whanganui's main sports hub, featuring fields, hardwood courts, swimming pools, a stadium and a bike track.^[7]

It hosts a range of North Island and national sports fixtures, like basketball and badminton.^[8][9]

The bike park component took 18 months to construct, and was extensively vandalised shortly after opening in December 2018.^[10]

Springvale covers 2.70 km² (1.04 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 3,730 as of June 2025,^[2] with a population density of 1,381 people per km².

Springvale had a population of 3,621 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 183 people (5.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 435 people (13.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,656 males, 1,953 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,530 dwellings.^[13] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 633 people (17.5%) aged under 15 years, 516 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,434 (39.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,032 (28.5%) aged 65 or older.^[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.0% European (Pākehā); 16.9% Māori; 3.2% Pasifika; 9.3% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori by 3.4%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 8.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[11]

Religious affiliations were 38.7% Christian, 1.2% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 1.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 2.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 48.8%, and 6.5% of people did not answer the census question.^[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 543 (18.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,680 (56.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 765 (25.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 186 people (6.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,284 (43.0%) full-time, 465 (15.6%) part-time, and 60 (2.0%) unemployed.^[11]

Mosston School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,^[17][18] with a roll of 172.^[19] It opened in 1878.^[20]

Faith City School is a state-integrated Christian primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[21][22] with a roll of 151.^[23] It started in 1979 as Wanganui Christian Academy for Year 1 to 13, and was later called Springvale Christian Academy and Faith Academy. The secondary section closed in 1989, but third and fourth forms were taught between 1992 and 1994. It became state-integrated in 1995.^[24]

Both these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of July 2025.^[25]

The Springvale Playcentre opened in 1968 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.^[26]