Southland District

Southland District is a New Zealand territorial authority district that covers most of the southern end of the South Island as well as Stewart Island.

History
Southland District was formed through the 1989 local government reforms. Four local authorities were amalgamated at that time: Wallace County, Winton Borough, Stewart Island County and most of Southland County. John Casey, who was first elected onto Southland County Council in 1977, oversaw the amalgamation and was elected Southland District's first mayor in 1989.

Winton Wallacetown Ward was renamed Oreti Ward with effect from the Council election on 12 October 2019. The Oreti River flows through this ward.

Geography


Southland District covers the majority of the land area of Southland Region, although the region also covers Gore District, Invercargill City and adjacent territorial waters. It has a land area of 29,574.53 km2, excluding inland waters such as Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri, and Lake Hauroko.

Southland District contains the islands south of Foveaux Strait:


 * Solander Islands
 * Stewart Island/Rakiura
 * Ruapuke Island

The seat of the district council is Invercargill, which, however, is not part of Southland District, but a territorial authority in its own right.

Two of New Zealand's largest national parks are within the boundaries of Southland District: Fiordland National Park, and Rakiura National Park (which covers most of Stewart Island/Rakiura).

Urban areas and settlements
The Southland District has three towns with a population over 1,000. Together, they are home to (0+0+0)/0*100% of the district's population. Other settlements and localities in the district include:

Mararoa Waimea Ward

 * Five Rivers Area:
 * Athol
 * Castlerock
 * Eyre Creek
 * Fairlight
 * Five Rivers
 * Garston
 * Josephville
 * Lowther
 * Lumsden
 * Mossburn
 * Nokomai
 * Parawa
 * Saint Patricks
 * Te Anau Area:
 * Cascade Creek
 * Knobs Flat
 * Manapouri
 * Milford Sound
 * Te Anau
 * The Key


 * Waikaia Area:
 * Ardlussa
 * Balfour
 * Kauhoe
 * Riversdale
 * Waikaia
 * Wendon
 * Wendonside

Waiau Aparima Ward

 * Riverton Area:
 * Colac Bay
 * Gummies Bush
 * Orepuki
 * Pahia
 * Riverton/Aparima
 * Thornbury
 * Waipango


 * Tuatapere Area:
 * Blackmount
 * Clifden
 * Merrivale
 * Monowai
 * Papatotara
 * Piko Piko
 * Pukemaori
 * Te Tua
 * Te Waewae
 * Tuatapere


 * Wallace Area:
 * Drummond
 * Fairfax
 * Isla Bank
 * Nightcaps
 * Ohai
 * Otahuti
 * Otautau
 * Wairio
 * Wreys Bush

Waihopai Toetoe Ward

 * Toetoes Area:
 * Curio Bay
 * Fortification
 * Fortrose
 * Glenham
 * Haldane
 * Mokoreta
 * Niagara
 * Otara
 * Pine Bush
 * Pukewao
 * Quarry Hills
 * Redan
 * Slope Point
 * Titiroa
 * Te Peka
 * Tokanui
 * Waipapa Point
 * Waikawa
 * Waimahaka
 * Wyndham


 * Waihopai Area:
 * Ashers
 * Dacre
 * Gorge Road
 * Grove Bush
 * Kapuka
 * Kapuka South
 * Longbush
 * Mabel Bush
 * Mokotua
 * Oteramika
 * Rakahouka
 * Rimu
 * Roslyn Bush
 * Timpanys
 * Woodlands


 * Te Tipua Area:
 * Brydone
 * Edendale
 * Glencoe
 * Menzies Ferry
 * Morton Mains
 * Ota Creek
 * Seaward Downs
 * Te Tipua
 * Waitane

Oreti Ward

 * Wallacetown Area:
 * Branxholme
 * Lochiel
 * Makarewa
 * Ryal Bush
 * Spar Bush
 * Tussock Creek
 * Waianiwa
 * Wallacetown
 * Waimatuku


 * Winton Area:
 * Benmore
 * Browns
 * Caroline
 * Centre Bush
 * Dipton
 * Dipton West
 * Hedgehope
 * Kauana
 * Lady Barkly
 * Limehills
 * Oreti Plains
 * Otapiri
 * South Hillend
 * Springhills
 * Winton

Stewart Island-Rakiura Ward

 * Oban
 * Port Pegasus (uninhabited)
 * Port William (uninhabited)

Demographics
Southland District covers 29575.19 km2 and had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Southland District had a population of 31,833 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 969 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,220 people (7.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 16,887 dwellings. The median age was 40.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6,387 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 5,025 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 14,874 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,541 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.3% European/Pākehā, 13.0% Māori, 1.4% Pasifika, 7.6% Asian, 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders, and 1.9% other. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Southland District had a population of 30,864 at the 2018 New Zealand census. There were 11,982 households, comprising 16,029 males and 14,835 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.7% had no religion, 38.4% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,363 (13.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 5,739 (23.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3,732 people (15.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 13,956 (57.4%) people were employed full-time, 4,053 (16.7%) were part-time, and 519 (2.1%) were unemployed.

Mayor
The current district mayor is Rob Scott. He has held this position since 2022.

Council
The district council is made up of twelve elected members, from various ward areas, and, like any other local authority, is elected every three years.

Current sister city

 * 🇮🇹 Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Liguria

Former sister city

 * 🇦🇺 Wyong Shire, New South Wales

Southland District was a sister city to Wyong Shire in New South Wales, Australia until 2010.