Spotswood, New Plymouth

Spotswood
Map
Interactive map of Spotswood
Coordinates: 39°4′18″S 174°2′7″E / 39.07167°S 174.03528°E / -39.07167; 174.03528
CountryNew Zealand
CityNew Plymouth
Local authorityNew Plymouth District Council
Electoral ward
  • Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward
  • Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
Area
 • Land346 ha (850 acres)
Population
 (June 2025)[2]
 • Total
4,030
 • Density1,160/km2 (3,020/sq mi)
Moturoa
Paritutu
Spotswood
Lynmouth
Whalers Gate Hurdon Marfell

Spotswood is a suburb of New Plymouth in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand. It is located to the west of the city centre.[3]

History

The area in which Spotswood is located was acquired by the New Zealand Government in 1901 and was subdivided in 1902 to be sold in sections from May 1903.[4]

Demographics

Spotswood covers 3.46 km2 (1.34 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,030 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,165 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20063,468—    
20133,450−0.07%
20183,633+1.04%
20233,864+1.24%
Source: [5][6]

Spotswood had a population of 3,864 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 231 people (6.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 414 people (12.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,965 males, 1,881 females, and 15 people of other genders in 1,461 dwellings.[7] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 744 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 771 (20.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,731 (44.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 621 (16.1%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.8% European (Pākehā); 27.1% Māori; 4.7% Pasifika; 5.5% Asian; 1.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.0%, Māori by 6.1%, Samoan by 1.2%, and other languages by 8.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 29.7% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.9% Islam, 0.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.3%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 489 (15.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,812 (58.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 819 (26.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 216 people (6.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,536 (49.2%) full-time, 450 (14.4%) part-time, and 117 (3.8%) unemployed.[5]

Education

Spotswood College is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of 926 students as of October 2025.[8][9] It was founded in 1960.[10]

Spotswood Primary is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 230 students as of October 2025.[8][11] The school opened in 1957.[12][13]

Te Pi'ipi'inga Kakano Mai Rangiatea is a composite (years 1–13) school with a roll of 153 students as of October 2025.[8][14] It is a Kura Kaupapa Māori school which teaches in the Māori language. It opened as a primary school in 1994[15] and became a composite school in 2014.[16]

All the schools are coeducational.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ North Island Provincial Town Maps (5th ed.). Wises Maps. p. 92.
  4. ^ "The Spotswood Settlement". Spotswood College Alumni. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  5. ^ 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. Spotswood (216300). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Spotswood (216300). 2018 Census place summary: Spotswood
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ a b c "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Spotswood College - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  10. ^ "Official opening". Spotswood College Alumni Trust. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Spotswood Primary School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  12. ^ "Welcome to Spotswood Primary". Spotswood Primary. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Jubilees & reunions: Spotswood Primary School 50th Jubilee". Education Gazette New Zealand. 85 (17). 9 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008.
  14. ^ "Te Pi'ipi'inga Kakano Mai Rangiatea - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  15. ^ "Departmental Notices – Education" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 9 September 1993. p. 2679.
  16. ^ Parata, Hekia (5 December 2013). "Change of Class of Te Pi'ipi'inga Kakano mai i Rangiatea Kura Kaupapa Maori (4145)". New Zealand Government.