Westown

Westown
Suburb
Yarrow Stadium
Yarrow Stadium
Map
Coordinates: 39°4′30″S 174°3′26″E / 39.07500°S 174.05722°E / -39.07500; 174.05722
CountryNew Zealand
CityNew Plymouth
Local authorityNew Plymouth District Council
Electoral ward
  • Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward
  • Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
Area
[1]
 • Land237 ha (586 acres)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
4,790
HospitalsTaranaki Base Hospital
Lynmouth New Plymouth Central
Marfell
Westown
 Vogeltown
Whalers Gate Hurdon Frankleigh Park

Westown is a suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the southwest of the city centre and west of Frankleigh Park.

Taranaki Base Hospital lies between Westown and Lynmouth. Yarrow Stadium is a rugby union ground in Westown.

Demographics

Westown covers 2.37 km2 (0.92 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,790 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 2,021 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20064,227—    
20134,266+0.13%
20184,404+0.64%
Source: [3]
Taranaki Base Hospital

Westown had a population of 4,404 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 138 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 177 people (4.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,803 households, comprising 2,157 males and 2,247 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 37.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 876 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 813 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,857 (42.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 858 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 82.4% European/Pākehā, 19.1% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 6.8% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.3% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.7% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 603 (17.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 813 (23.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 429 people (12.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,596 (45.2%) people were employed full-time, 510 (14.5%) were part-time, and 135 (3.8%) were unemployed.[3]

Education

Francis Douglas Memorial College is a boys' secondary (years 7-13) school with a roll of 730 students as of August 2024.[4][5] It is a state-integrated Catholic school, founded in 1959.[6]

Westown School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 134 students as of August 2024.[4][7]

Notes

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Westown (217400). 2018 Census place summary: Westown
  4. ^ a b "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  5. ^ Education Counts: Francis Douglas Memorial College
  6. ^ "About FDMC". Francis Douglas Memorial College.
  7. ^ Education Counts: Westown School

Further reading

Churches

Community Church

  • Richdale, W. L.; et al. (1987). Fifty eventful years: history of the Westown Community Church of Christ, Life & Advent. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: The Church.

Methodist

  • Wright, Henry R. (1974). Methodism in Westown: the first fifty years. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: St Luke’s Church Anniversary Committee?.

School

  • Westown School 75th jubilee, Easter 2000. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Westown. 2000.
  • Gracia, Denis (comp.) (1975). 50th jubilee of Westown Primary School, 1925-1975. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Westown School Jubilee Committee [1975] ; Taranaki Newspapers.