Story: Manawatū and Horowhenua region

Land area

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 4,031 sq km
• New Zealand: 268,690 sq km

Climate (Palmerston North)

(National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research data, 1971–2000)

• Mean temperature, January: 17.9°C
• Mean temperature, July: 8.6°C
• Mean annual rainfall: 967 mm
• Mean annual sunshine: 1,733 hours

Total population, 2006

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 133,665
• New Zealand: 4,027,947

Ethnic affiliation, 2006

(Multiple responses allowed)

European

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 73.5%
• New Zealand: 67.6%

New Zealander ¹

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 13.0%
• New Zealand: 11.1%

Māori

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 16.3%
• New Zealand: 14.6%

Pacific Island

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 3.2%
• New Zealand: 6.9%

Asian (including Indian)

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 5.0%
• New Zealand: 9.2%

Principal tribes

Muaūpoko, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Raukawa, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata

Population of major urban areas, 2006

• Palmerston North: 76,032
• Levin: 19,239

Age distribution, 2006

Under 15

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 21.1%
• New Zealand: 21.5%

15–64

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 65.2%
• New Zealand: 66.2%

Over 65

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 13.7%
• New Zealand: 12.3%

Employment by industry, 2001

(Figures are for workers aged 15 and over, in selected industries in which the region’s employment pattern is most distinctive)

Property and business services

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 9.0%
• New Zealand: 11.2%

Government administration and defence

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 5.9%
• New Zealand: 3.5%

Education

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 9.6%
• New Zealand: 7.3%

Health

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 9.8%
• New Zealand: 8.1%

Unemployment, 2006

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 5.2%
• New Zealand: 5.1%

Livestock numbers, 2002

Sheep

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 1,960,256
• New Zealand: 39, 571, 837

Dairy cattle

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 206,608
• New Zealand: 5,161,589

Beef cattle

• Manawatū and Horowhenua: 252,961
• New Zealand: 4,491,281