Westmere, Manawatū-Whanganui
Westmere | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Westmere | |
| Coordinates: 39°53′49″S 174°59′42″E / 39.897°S 174.995°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| District | Whanganui District |
| Community | Whanganui Rural Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Whanganui District Council |
| • Regional council | Horizons Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Whanganui | Andrew Tripe[1] |
| • Whanganui MP | Carl Bates[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 36.49 km2 (14.09 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[4] | |
• Total | 873 |
| • Density | 23.9/km2 (62.0/sq mi) |
Westmere is a lake and rural community in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.
The settlement was established in the late 19th century, with a school being opened near the lake in 1894. Seven generations of the Laird family have been involved in the school, including school co-founder Alex Laird and founding teacher Emma Laird. The buildings were built by local families, and the soil for the grounds was transported with horses and drays from local farms.[6]
Former residents include Wellington paediatrician Dr Brierley Emmett and concert pianist Liam Wooding.[6]
Demographics
Westmere locality covers 36.49 km2 (14.09 sq mi).[5] It is split between the larger Brunswick-Papaiti and Mowhanau statistical areas.[7]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 753 | — |
| 2013 | 768 | +0.28% |
| 2018 | 795 | +0.69% |
| 2023 | 873 | +1.89% |
| The 2006 population is for a larger area of 37.19 km2. Source: [4][8] | ||
Westmere had a population of 873 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (9.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 105 people (13.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 444 males and 429 females in 336 dwellings.[9] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 132 people (15.1%) aged under 15 years, 147 (16.8%) aged 15 to 29, 432 (49.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 159 (18.2%) aged 65 or older.[4]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.8% European (Pākehā); 11.7% Māori; 1.0% Pasifika; 1.4% 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 98.6%, Māori by 2.4%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 6.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]
Religious affiliations were 37.1% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.9%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.[4]
Of those at least 15 years old, 168 (22.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 438 (59.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 123 (16.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 99 people (13.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 387 (52.2%) full-time, 147 (19.8%) part-time, and 9 (1.2%) unemployed.[4]
Education
Westmere School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[10][11] with a roll of 234 as of July 2025.[12][13] It opened in a shed in 1892, and upgraded to a "substantial" room in 1894.[14]
Between 1994 and 2006, under principal Bill Greening, the school was rebuilt with two new adventure playgrounds. The school board of trustees and parent trustee association raised an average of $30,000 per annum to fund the improvements.[6]
References
- ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017658, 7017659, 7017662, 7034131 and 7034132. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
- ^ a b c Wylie, Liz (23 October 2019). "Westmere School in Whanganui celebrates 125 years of education". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Whanganui Chronicle.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017658, 7017659, 7017662, 7017663, 7017664 and 7017665.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Official School Website". westmereprimary.school.nz.
- ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "History". Westmere School. Retrieved 27 November 2025.