Levin, New Zealand

Levin (Taitoko) is the largest town and seat of the Horowhenua District, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located east of Lake Horowhenua, around 95 km north of Wellington and 50 km southwest of Palmerston North.

The town has a population of making it the 30th largest urban area in New Zealand, and third largest in Manawatū-Whanganui behind Palmerston North and Whanganui.

Levin is a service centre for the surrounding rural area, and a centre for light manufacturing.

To the west of the main town lies Lake Horowhenua, which covers some 3.9 sq/km. It is currently undergoing regeneration.

19th century
The area now occupied by Levin was connected to both Wellington and Palmerston North by railway in 1886. The area was surveyed in 1888, and European settlement of began following the sale of suburban and rural sections, which commenced on 19 March 1889.

The town was named after William Hort Levin, a director of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company.

The name is a variation of the Jewish clan name Levi. Unlike the usual pronunciation of the surname, stress is placed on the second syllable of the word. However Levin's great-grandson, Peter Levin, claims his forebear would have pronounced his surname as Levene, and that this pronunciation was in common use for many years and is always used by the family.

20th century—present
Levin was made a borough in 1906.

The Levin clock tower was built in 1999 as a donation by the Levin Rotary Club after some fundraising. It was described as "iconic" to the town by the Manawatū Standard. It has four clocks, one for every side, each with an independent motor, and has a temperature gauge.

2024 car rally
On Saturday, 1 June 2024 a car rally locally known as "the Levin car invasion" took place. With 200 cars and 500 people in attendance. They started at the intersection of Queens street and State highway 57 before the police removed them. The Convoy then moved to Miro Street in Ōtaki before returning to Levin Now on the intersection of state highway 1 and Queens street. Once they arrived back in levin the Police tried to stop the group however the police were attacked. In an interview the "organizer" Said "What we're doing is illegal, but until we get a proper skid pad or somewhere safe to do it we're going to keep doing it on the streets."

Marae
Kawiu Marae and Te Huia o Raukura meeting house, located just north of the town, are a meeting place for Muaūpoko.

In October 2020, the Government committed $945,445 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Kawiu Marae and nearby Kohuturoa Marae, creating 50 jobs.

Demographics
Levin is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area and covers 22.91 km2. It had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Before the 2023 census, Levin had a smaller boundary, covering 22.43 km2. Using that boundary, Levin had a population of 17,679 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,422 people (8.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,707 people (10.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 7,062 households, comprising 8,346 males and 9,324 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female, with 3,336 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 2,988 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 6,651 (37.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 4,698 (26.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 77.0% European/Pākehā, 25.4% Māori, 8.4% Pasifika, 5.2% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.6% had no religion, 39.4% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,293 (9.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 4,332 (30.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 897 people (6.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 5,277 (36.8%) people were employed full-time, 1,719 (12.0%) were part-time, and 768 (5.4%) were unemployed.

Retail
Levin Mall is a mall covering 791 m2, with 14 retailers including a Farmers department store.

Transport
Levin lies on State Highway 1, which forms the town's main street, Oxford Street. State Highway 57 forms the eastern boundary of the town, and meets State Highway 1 between Levin and the Ohau River, Wellington.

Levin is on the North Island Main Trunk with a station used by the Capital Connection long distance commuter train between Wellington and Palmerston North. It is also served by 8 InterCity buses a day each way.

Buses run for shoppers to Waikanae on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Fridays to Shannon, Foxton Beach, Foxton and Waitarere Beach. A commuter bus runs via Foxton to Palmerston North.

Schools
There are nine schools in the Levin urban area:


 * Fairfield School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately.
 * Horowhenua College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school. It opened in 1940 and has a roll of approximately.
 * 'Levin East School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately.
 * Levin Intermediate is a state intermediate (Year 7–8) school with a roll of approximately.
 * Levin North School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately.
 * Levin School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately.
 * St Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately.
 * Taitoko School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately.
 * Waiopehu College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school. It opened in 1973 and has a roll of approximately.

Notable people

 * Jack Afamasaga – rugby league player
 * Sir Paul Beresford – British politician
 * Suzy Clarkson – newsreader
 * Kay Cohen – fashion designer
 * Joy Cowley – novelist
 * Jaxon Evans – racing driver
 * Cathryn Finlayson – hockey player
 * Rebecca Gibney – actress
 * Nathan Guy – politician
 * Nicky Hager – author
 * Darren Hughes – politician
 * Dean Kent – Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer
 * Doug Kidd – politician
 * David Lomax – rugby league player
 * Johnny Lomax – rugby league player
 * Matthew Saunoa – New Zealand Idol winner 2006
 * George Silk – photographer, LIFE magazine
 * Carlos Spencer – rugby union player
 * Richard Sylvan – philosopher and logician
 * James Tamou – rugby league player
 * Codie Taylor – rugby union player
 * Roger Twose – cricketer
 * Frank Weitzel – printmaker and sculptor
 * Sonny Whakarau – rugby league player