Hokowhitu

Demographics

Hokowhitu covers 5.28 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Hokowhitu had a population of 11,097 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 150 people (1.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 459 people (4.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 5,307 males, 5,730 females, and 63 people of other genders in 4,200 dwellings. 4.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,980 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 2,490 (22.4%) aged 15 to 29, 4,671 (42.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,962 (17.7%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 75.9% European (Pākehā); 14.4% Māori; 4.2% Pasifika; 16.3% Asian; 2.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.5%, Māori by 3.7%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 17.8%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 26.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 33.3% Christian, 2.4% Hindu, 1.8% Islam, 0.8% Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.0%, and 6.0% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,162 (34.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 4,431 (48.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,524 (16.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $43,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,308 people (14.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 4,464 (49.0%) full-time, 1,419 (15.6%) part-time, and 246 (2.7%) unemployed.

Education

The former, shared campus of the Manawatū Polytechnic and Palmerston North Teachers' College exists next to Hokowhitu Lagoon. The campus begun construction in the early 1960s, with many of its buildings finished in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Polytech left the campus in 1995, and Massey University acquired the Teachers College in 1996. The New Zealand Defence Force began using some of the buildings in 2011.

Massey relocated the college to Turitea campus in 2013 and sold the land in 2016. When the site was sold, the land consisted of 20 buildings; including halls, offices, a library, a marae and sporting facilities. The site began to be redeveloped into housing in 2018.

Hokowhitu has three contributing state primary schools for years 1 to 6: Hokowhitu School (established 1924) in the north, with a roll of ; College Street Normal School (established 1893) in the west, with a roll of ; and Winchester School (established 1958) in the east, with a roll of .

St James School, a state-integrated Catholic primary school for years 1 to 6 located just south of Hokowhitu School, has a roll of . It opened in 1958.

Manukura is a designated character school for Year 9 to 13 students. It was originally based on the old Massey University campus. It opened in 2005 as Tū Toa, and gained Special Character status in 2015.

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of

Transport

Palmerston North bus routes 103 and 107 (to/from the Main Street Bus Hub) and 121 (to/from Massey University) serve Hokowhitu.

References

References

1. "Parks and reserves - Hokowhitu". Palmerston North City Council.
2. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
3. {{NZ census 2018. Milverton (231400), Hokowhitu Central (231700), Hokowhitu East (231800), Ruahine (232000) and Hokowhitu South (232300)
4. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
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.
6. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
7. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
8. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
9. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
10. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
11. (16 March 2011). "Defence and Massey join forces in the Manawatu".
12. (8 April 2016). "Massey University sells Hokowhitu campus in Palmerston North to Wallace Development Company". [[stuff.co.nz]].
13. (29 November 2018). "Manawatū's $1.5 billion development boom continues a steady ramp up". [[stuff.co.nz]].
14. "Introducing Hokowhitu School". Hokowhitu School.
15. "Hokowhitu School Official School Website".
16. "Hokowhitu School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
17. "Hokowhitu School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
18. "Prospectus 2022". College Street Normal School.
19. "College Street Normal School Official School Website".
20. "College Street Normal School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
21. "College Street Normal School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
22. "Winchester School History". Winchester School.
23. "Winchester School Official School Website".
24. "Winchester School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
25. "Winchester School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
26. "St James School Official School Website".
27. "St James School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
28. "St James School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
29. "History". St James School.
30. "Principal's Welcome". www.manukura.school.nz.
31. "Manukura – Profile and Contact Details". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
32. "Manukura". www.ero.govt.nz.
33. "Principal's Welcome". Manukura.
34. (May 2025). "Bus timetable - Palmerston North urban".