# Wilton, New Zealand

Wilton is a small suburb in Wellington, New Zealand. It is best known for Otari-Wilton's Bush, a large reserve that is situated in the suburb. Otari-Wilton's bush is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. It features 14 km of walking tracks and a 'canopy walkway'. The canopy walkway is a raised walkway that provides a unique chance to view life in, and from, the top level of trees such as mature tawa, rewarewa and hinau.

## History

Job Wilton was a sheep farmer; in 1861 he had a flock of 165 sheep, to be washed in the Kaiwharawhara Stream before shearing. He subdivided his farm in 1915, but Wilton was semi-rural to the 1930s with little housing development until after World War II. A Sunday trip to Wilton's Bush and Chapman's Gardens (now the Otari Plant Museum) required walking from the Wadestown tram terminus. From 1944 a feeder bus ran from the terminus. A school opened in 1956. Wilton House in Blackbridge Road was built for Courtenay Place chemist Mr O'Connor and his sister in 1925.

## Demographics

Wilton statistical area covers 1.26 km$^2$ (0.49 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 2,210 as of June 2024, with a population density of 1,754 people per km$^2$.
Wilton had a population of 2,205 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 156 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 171 people (8.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 876 households, comprising 1,059 males and 1,146 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female. The median age was 38.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 387 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 474 (21.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,062 (48.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 282 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 83.9% European/Pākehā, 9.8% Māori, 5.0% Pasifika, 9.3% Asian, and 3.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 27.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.6% had no religion, 31.0% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 1.8% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 957 (52.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 90 (5.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $46,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 600 people (33.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,041 (57.3%) people were employed full-time, 261 (14.4%) were part-time, and 72 (4.0%) were unemployed.

## Education
### School enrolment zone

Wilton is within the enrolment zones for Wellington College, Wellington Girls' College, Wellington High School, Onslow College, St Oran's College and the Otari School.

### Primary schools

Ōtari School (Te Kura o Ōtari) is a state-funded full-primary school nestled next to the Otari-Wilton's Bush. The school encompasses three teaching strands: Montessori, Māori Immersion and the standard New Zealand curriculum. It had a roll of 206 as of November 2024.
Cardinal McKeefry Catholic Primary School (which opened in 1970, but has origins back to 1876) is a primary school for Year 1 to Year 8 (5 to 13 years old), with a roll of 55 as of November 2024.

## Transportation

Wilton is served by multiple bus services:
* No 4 Strathmore - Mairangi
* No 13 Mairangi - Brandon Street
* No 14 Wilton - Kilbirnie
* No 22 Johnsonville - Wellington
* No N4 Night service Wellington - Khandallah

## Churches

The Catholic Parish of Ōtari has one church in Wilton - St Thomas More, in Worcester Street