Westown

Last updated

Westown
Suburb
YarrowStadium20101002.jpg
Yarrow Stadium
Westown
Interactive map of Westown
Coordinates: 39°4′30″S174°3′26″E / 39.07500°S 174.05722°E / -39.07500; 174.05722
CountryNew Zealand
City New Plymouth
Local authority New Plymouth District Council
Electoral ward
  • Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward
  • Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
Area
[1]
 • Land237 ha (590 acres)
Population
 (June 2025) [2]
 • Total
4,880
 • Density2,060/km2 (5,330/sq mi)
Hospitals Taranaki Base Hospital
Lynmouth New Plymouth Central
Marfell
Pfeil oben.svg
Pfeil links.svgWestownPfeil rechts.svg
Pfeil unten.svg
 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.

Contents

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 4,880 as of June 2025, [2] with a population density of 2,059 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20064,227—    
20134,266+0.13%
20184,404+0.64%
20234,683+1.24%
Source: [3] [4]
Taranaki Base Hospital Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth.jpg
Taranaki Base Hospital

Westown had a population of 4,683 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 279 people (6.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 417 people (9.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,226 males, 2,433 females, and 24 people of other genders in 1,863 dwellings. [5] 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 927 people (19.8%) aged under 15 years, 825 (17.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,947 (41.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 987 (21.1%) aged 65 or older. [3]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 77.6% European (Pākehā); 23.0% Māori; 3.4% Pasifika; 10.5% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori by 5.5%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 9.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.9, compared with 28.8% nationally. [3]

Religious affiliations were 34.4% Christian, 1.7% Hindu, 0.8% Islam, 1.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 50.5%, and 8.8% of people did not answer the census question. [3]

Of those at least 15 years old, 699 (18.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,046 (54.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,008 (26.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 267 people (7.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,695 (45.1%) full-time, 546 (14.5%) part-time, and 114 (3.0%) unemployed. [3]

Education

Francis Douglas Memorial College is a boys' secondary (years 7-13) school with a roll of 758 students as of July 2025. [6] [7] It is a state-integrated Catholic school, founded in 1959. [8]

Westown School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 153 students as of July 2025. [6] [9] It opened in 1925. [10]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Westown (217400). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Westown (217400). 2018 Census place summary: Westown
  5. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  7. ↑ Education Counts: Francis Douglas Memorial College
  8. ↑ "About FDMC". Francis Douglas Memorial College.
  9. ↑ Education Counts: Westown School
  10. ↑ "50th jubilee of Westown Primary School, 1925-1975". Westown School Jubilee Committee. 1975.

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.
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