Fordell, New Zealand
Fordell | |
|---|---|
 Paloma Gardens | |
 Interactive map of Fordell | |
| Coordinates: 39°57′38″S 175°12′17″E / 39.960543°S 175.204711°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 | 7.32 km2 (2.83 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[4] | |
• Total | 168 |
| • Density | 23.0/km2 (59.4/sq mi) |
Fordell is a rural community in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is on the Marton-New Plymouth railway line east of Kaitoke and north of Whangaehu.
Paloma Gardens in Fordell is a private garden rated by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as "Significant".[6] The American horror film X, directed by Ti West and starring Mia Goth, was filmed in the area.
Demographics
Fordell locality covers 7.32 km2 (2.83 sq mi).[5] It is part of the larger Kaitoke-Fordell statistical area.[7]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 141 | — |
| 2013 | 147 | +0.60% |
| 2018 | 138 | −1.26% |
| 2023 | 168 | +4.01% |
| Source: [4][8] | ||
Fordell had a population of 168 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (21.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (14.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 81 males and 87 females in 63 dwellings.[9] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 36 people (21.4%) aged under 15 years, 24 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (44.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (23.2%) aged 65 or older.[4]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.9% European (Pākehā), 12.5% Māori, 7.1% Pasifika, 3.6% Asian, and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, and Māori by 1.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 12.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]
Religious affiliations were 44.6% Christian, and 1.8% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 44.6%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.[4]
Of those at least 15 years old, 27 (20.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 81 (61.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24 (18.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 63 (47.7%) full-time, 21 (15.9%) part-time, and 6 (4.5%) unemployed.[4]
Kaitoke-Fordell statistical area
Kaitoke-Fordell statistical area covers 261.31 km2 (100.89 sq mi)[10] and had an estimated population of 2,110 as of June 2025,[11] with a population density of 8 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,398 | — |
| 2013 | 1,773 | +3.45% |
| 2018 | 1,770 | −0.03% |
| 2023 | 2,061 | +3.09% |
| Source: [12][13] | ||
Kaitoke-Fordell had a population of 2,061 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 291 people (16.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 288 people (16.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,197 males, 855 females, and 6 people of other genders in 612 dwellings.[14] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 381 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 294 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,056 (51.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 327 (15.9%) aged 65 or older.[12]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.2% European (Pākehā), 21.5% Māori, 2.8% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 4.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 4.5%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 3.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[12]
Religious affiliations were 31.4% Christian, 0.4% Islam, 1.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.2%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.[12]
Of those at least 15 years old, 261 (15.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,056 (62.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 363 (21.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 132 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 771 (45.9%) full-time, 258 (15.4%) part-time, and 78 (4.6%) unemployed.[12]
Education
Fordell School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[15][16] with a roll of 142 as of October 2025.[17][18] It opened in 1883.[19]
Notable people
- Charles Harris Burnett, born (1875) and farmed at Fordell before becoming an MP for Tauranga
- Henry Shafto Harrison, early settler (1847), the first MP for the Wanganui electorate, first and only President of the Wanganui Jockey Club.
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. 7017679. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Paloma Gardens". Whanganui District Council. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "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. 7017679.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ 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. Kaitoke-Fordell (225600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaitoke-Fordell (225600). 2018 Census place summary: Kaitoke-Fordell
- ^ "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". fordell.school.nz.
- ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ Howie, Miss B.; Campbell, H.; Berryman, Kenneth Jones (1958). "Fordell School, 1883-1958 : seventy fifth jubilee". Fordell School Jubilee Committee.