Milson, New Zealand
Milson | |
|---|---|
 The Milson Four Square in 2025 | |
 Interactive map of Milson | |
| Coordinates: 40°20′S 175°37′E / 40.333°S 175.617°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Palmerston North |
| Local authority | Palmerston North City Council |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Established | 1926 |
| Area | |
| • Land | 973 ha (2,400 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 6,260 |
| • Density | 643/km2 (1,670/sq mi) |
| Airports | Palmerston North Airport |
| Bunnythorpe | Whakarongo | |
| Newbury |
  Milson  |
Kelvin Grove |
| Cloverlea | Papaioea | Roslyn |
Milson is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. The suburb is located to the north of the city, beyond the North Island Main Trunk Rail.
Milson is mostly a residential suburb with an estimated population of 6,260 as of June 2025.[2] Milson is divided into a residential zone in the west and central and an industrial zone in the east.
Palmerston North Airport is in Milson.
Milson was part of the Papaioea Ward of Palmerston North City Council until 2013. It was part of the Manawatu electorate until 1996, when it became part of the Rangitikei electorate.
Many other local streets and parks have a space or US presidential theme. For example, Apollo Park has a spaced-themed playground and a butterfly park.[3] Other parks include Colquhoun Park, John F Kennedy Park, Clearview Park, Kennedy Park, Paradise Park, Pinedale Reserve, Langley Reserve, Clearview Reserve, Jefferson Reserve and Mangaone Stream Esplanade Reserve.[4]
History
In 1926, work began on the nearby Milson railway deviation which was to take the main trunk line out of the city centre. Earlier in the decade, the Railways Department was granted their own housing programme to combat problems in housing its workers. To service the construction of the Milson deviation, the department erected a railway settlement in the area, calling it Milson. Some 70 railway houses were built. Milson Primary School and a community centre were built to serve the workers and their families.[5] many of these houses were sold following reforms of the railways in the late 20th century. About 60 houses remain today.
Much of the rest of the suburb was constructed after the 1950s.
Milson, and Milson Line (a main street in the suburb), are named after a historic local land owner
Demographics
Milson covers 9.73 km2 (3.76 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 6,260 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 643 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 5,292 | — |
| 2013 | 5,586 | +0.78% |
| 2018 | 5,775 | +0.67% |
| 2023 | 6,051 | +0.94% |
| Source: [6][7] | ||
Milson had a population of 6,051 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 276 people (4.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 465 people (8.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,946 males, 3,093 females, and 15 people of other genders in 2,223 dwellings.[8] 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,179 people (19.5%) aged under 15 years, 1,218 (20.1%) aged 15 to 29, 2,472 (40.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,182 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.[6]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.2% European (Pākehā); 20.8% Māori; 5.0% Pasifika; 16.5% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.1%, Māori by 4.7%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 12.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[6]
Religious affiliations were 34.8% Christian, 4.1% Hindu, 1.1% Islam, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 49.6%, and 6.5% of people did not answer the census question.[6]
Of those at least 15 years old, 939 (19.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,712 (55.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,218 (25.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 336 people (6.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,484 (51.0%) full-time, 570 (11.7%) part-time, and 126 (2.6%) unemployed.[6]
| Name | Area (km2) |
Population | Density (per km2) |
Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmerston North Airport | 7.47 | 129 | 17 | 42 | 39.4 years | $53,800[9] |
| Milson North | 1.03 | 2,688 | 2,610 | 1,020 | 42.6 years | $37,400[10] |
| Milson South | 1.23 | 3,240 | 2,634 | 1,164 | 33.4 years | $42,700[11] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Education
Milson School is a contributing state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[12][13] with a roll of 370.[14] It opened in 1928.[15]
St Peter's College is a state-integrated Catholic school for Year 7 to 13 students,[16][17] with a roll of 761 as of October 2025.[18] It opened in 1974.[19]
Both schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of October 2025.[20]
References
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ a b c "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "Five of Manawatū's top playgrounds". ManawatuNZ.com. Central Economic Development Agency.
- ^ "Parks and Reserves - Milson". pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council.
- ^ Roche, Michael. "Garden suburbs and NZ railways 1922 – 1929" (PDF). New Zealand Planning Institute.
- ^ 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. Milson (54930). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Palmerston North Airport (228900), Milson North (229000) and Milson South (229300).
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Palmerston North Airport. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Milson North. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Milson South. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Milson School Official School Website". milson.school.nz.
- ^ "Milson School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Milson School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Official Opening of Milson School". Manawatu Times. 17 May 1928.
- ^ "St Peter's College Official School Website". stpeterspn.school.nz.
- ^ "St Peter's College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "St Peter's College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ Heagney, George (19 September 2024). "St Peter's College to celebrate 50 years at Labour weekend". Manawatū Standard.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.