Westbrook, Palmerston North

Westbrook
Interactive map of Westbrook
Coordinates: 40°21′25″S 175°34′19″E / 40.357°S 175.572°E / -40.357; 175.572
CountryNew Zealand
CityPalmerston North
Local authorityPalmerston North City Council
Electoral ward
  • Te Hirawanui General Ward
  • Te Pūao Māori Ward
Area
 • Land349 ha (860 acres)
Population
 (June 2025)[2]
 • Total
3,440
 • Density986/km2 (2,550/sq mi)
Newbury Cloverlea
Westbrook
Takaro
Longburn Highbury

Westbrook is a suburb in the city of Palmerston North, New Zealand.

The semi-rural suburb includes the Olive Tree Village, the Manawatu Trotting Club, and several parks and reserves: Bill Brown Park, David Spring Park, Kimberley Park, Ashton Reserve, Amberley Reserve, Chippendale Reserve, Chelmarsh Reserve, Marybank Reserve, Dalfield Reserve, and part of the Kawau Stream Reserve.[3]

Demographics

Westbrook covers 3.49 km2 (1.35 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,440 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 986 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20063,039—    
20133,003−0.17%
20183,261+1.66%
20233,345+0.51%
Source: [4][5]

Westbrook had a population of 3,345 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (2.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 342 people (11.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,665 males, 1,665 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,137 dwellings.[6] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 750 people (22.4%) aged under 15 years, 792 (23.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,410 (42.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 393 (11.7%) aged 65 or older.[4]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 68.0% European (Pākehā); 32.7% Māori; 12.4% Pasifika; 9.3% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.7%, Māori by 8.3%, Samoan by 2.4%, and other languages by 9.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]

Religious affiliations were 30.3% Christian, 1.5% Hindu, 1.6% Islam, 2.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.2%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.[4]

Of those at least 15 years old, 381 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,467 (56.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 741 (28.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 99 people (3.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,317 (50.8%) full-time, 336 (12.9%) part-time, and 114 (4.4%) unemployed.[4]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)
Population Density
(per km2)
Dwellings Median age Median
income
Westbrook 1.13 3,081 2,727 1,047 31.8 years $37,000[7]
Pioneer West 2.36 264 112 90 44.4 years $48,700[8]
New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

Education

Te Kura o Wairau is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[9] with a roll of 166 as of July 2025.[10][11] It started in 1963 as Highbury School.[12] In 2002 it became Somerset Crescent School,[13] and it took the current name in 2021.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Westbrook Parks". pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Westbrook (229500) and Pioneer West (229700). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Westbrook (229500) and Pioneer West (229700).
  6. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Westbrook. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Pioneer West. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Te Kura o Wairau Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  10. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Te Kura o Wairau Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  12. ^ ""In Good Hands" [First day of school]". Manawatū Heritage. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  13. ^ "About Our School". Te Kura o Wairau. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  14. ^ Heagney]], George (25 May 2021). "School's new name Te Kura o Wairau honours culture and history". Stuff.