Grove Bush

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Grove Bush
Village
Grove Bush
Interactive map of Grove Bush
Coordinates: 46°17′35″S168°28′44″E / 46.293°S 168.479°E / -46.293; 168.479
CountryNew Zealand
Region Southland region
Territorial authorities of New Zealand Southland District
WardWaihopai Toetoe Ward
CommunityWaihopai Toetoe Community
Electorates
Government
  Territorial authority Southland District Council
  Regional council Southland Regional Council
   Mayor of Southland Rob Scott [1]
   Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds
   Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris
Time zone UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
  Summer (DST) UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode
9876
Local iwi Ngāi Tahu

Grove Bush is a village in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the banks of the Makarewa River on the Southland Plains near the foothills of the Hokonui Hills. [2]

The village's main feature is its community hall. It is situated in a rural area of fertile farmland; the nearest city, Invercargill, is approximately 20 km southwest. [3] Other small townships are nearby: Mabel Bush is just to the east, while Springhills and Hedgehope are to the north and Rakahouka is to the south. [4]

Demographics

Grove Bush statistical area covers 145.56 km2 (56.20 sq mi) [5] and had an estimated population of 1,370 as of June 2025, [6] with a population density of 9.4 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006975    
20131,065+1.27%
20181,158+1.69%
Source: [7]

Grove Bush had a population of 1,158 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 93 people (8.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 183 people (18.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 402 households, comprising 582 males and 576 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 38.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 267 people (23.1%) aged under 15 years, 183 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (49.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 135 (11.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.9% European/Pākehā, 6.0% Māori, 0.5% Pasifika, 4.7% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.3% had no religion, 39.4% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 144 (16.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 198 (22.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 198 people (22.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 534 (59.9%) people were employed full-time, 156 (17.5%) were part-time, and 15 (1.7%) were unemployed. [7]

References

  1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  2. "GROVE BUSH". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1905. p. 1055.
  3. Grant, David (25 May 2015). "Southland places - The Southland bush". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  4. "Waihopai Toetoe". www.southlanddc.govt.nz. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  6. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Grove Bush (359000). 2018 Census place summary: Grove Bush