# South Taranaki District

South Taranaki is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island that contains the towns of Hāwera (the seat of the district), Manaia, Ōpunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley. The District has a land area of 3,575.46 km$^2$ (1,380.49 sq mi) and a population of 30,400 (June 2024). It is part of the greater Taranaki Region.
The district straddles the boundary separating the Wellington and Taranaki provinces, resulting in the town of Waverley celebrating Wellington Anniversary Day in January, and the town of Patea 15 kilometres away celebrating Taranaki Anniversary Day in March.
Council facilities include the South Taranaki LibraryPlus, Mania, Kaponga, Patea, Eltham, Opunake, Hāwera and Waverley libraries.

## History

The South Taranaki District was established as part of the 1989 local government reforms, merging Egmont, Eltham, Hawera, Patea and Waimate West counties.

## Demographics

South Taranaki District covers 3,575.08 km$^2$ (1,380.35 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 30,400 as of June 2024, with a population density of 8.5 people per km$^2$.
South Taranaki District had a population of 29,025 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,491 people (5.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,445 people (9.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 14,655 males, 14,262 females and 105 people of other genders in 11,202 dwellings. 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6,171 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 4,830 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 12,906 (44.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,115 (17.6%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.2% European (Pākehā); 29.3% Māori; 3.0% Pasifika; 4.0% Asian; 0.4% 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 97.5%, Māori language by 6.6%, Samoan by 0.5% and other languages by 4.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.7% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 1.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.1%, and 9.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,830 (8.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 13,113 (57.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 7,359 (32.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,746 people (7.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 11,160 (48.8%) people were employed full-time, 2,958 (12.9%) were part-time, and 717 (3.1%) were unemployed.
Individual wards :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Taranaki Coastal General Ward | 805.54 | 6,387 | 7.9 | 2,421 | 38.2 years | $37,100 |
| Eltham-Kaponga General Ward | 620.48 | 4,782 | 7.7 | 1,806 | 38.3 years | $38,600 |
| Te Hāwera General Ward | 481.06 | 13,821 | 28.7 | 5,247 | 39.8 years | $37,600 |
| Pātea General Ward | 1,668.00 | 4,035 | 2.4 | 1,728 | 43.9 years | $31,800 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |

## Government

The current mayor is Phil Nixon. The deputy mayor is Robert Northcott.