Levin, New Zealand

History

19th century

The area now occupied by Levin was connected to both Wellington and Palmerston North by railway in 1886. The area was surveyed in 1888, and European settlement began following the sale of suburban and rural sections, which commenced on 19 March 1889.

The town was named after William Hort Levin, a director of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company.

The name is a variation of the Jewish clan name Levi. Unlike the usual pronunciation of the surname, stress is placed on the second syllable of the word. William Hort Levin's great-grandson, Peter Levin, claims his forebear would have pronounced his surname as Levene, and that this pronunciation was in common use for many years and is always used by the family.

20th century—present

Levin was made a borough in 1906.

The Levin clock tower was built in 1999 as a donation by the Levin Rotary Club after some fundraising. It was described as "iconic" to the town by the Manawatū Standard. It has four clocks, one for every side, each with an independent motor, and has a temperature gauge.

2024 car rally

On Saturday, 1 June 2024 a car rally locally known as "the Levin car invasion" took place. With 200 cars and 500 people in attendance, they started at the intersection of Queen Street and State Highway 57 before the police removed them. The convoy then moved to Miro Street in Ōtaki before returning to Levin, now at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Queen Street. Once they arrived back in Levin, the Police tried to stop the group however the police were attacked. In an interview the "organizer" said "What we're doing is illegal, but until we get a proper skid pad or somewhere safe to do it we're going to keep doing it on the streets."

Marae

Kawiu Marae and Te Huia o Raukura meeting house, located just north of the town, are a meeting place for Muaūpoko.

In October 2020, the Government committed $945,445 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Kawiu Marae and nearby Kohuturoa Marae, creating 50 jobs.

Demographics

Levin is described by Stats NZ as a medium urban area, which covers 22.91 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Levin had a population of 19,533 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,758 people (9.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3,279 people (20.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 9,303 males, 10,158 females, and 72 people of other genders in 7,578 dwellings. 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3,633 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 3,345 (17.1%) aged 15 to 29, 7,359 (37.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,196 (26.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 74.8% European (Pākehā); 29.2% Māori; 10.2% Pasifika; 6.1% Asian; 0.8% 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 96.2%, Māori by 6.0%, Samoan by 3.1%, and other languages by 7.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 34.1% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 1.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.7%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,680 (10.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 8,724 (54.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 5,499 (34.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 663 people (4.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 6,207 (39.0%) full-time, 1,824 (11.5%) part-time, and 612 (3.8%) unemployed.

Economy

Retail

The Levin Mall covers 791 m2, with 14 retailers including a Farmers department store.

Transport

Levin lies on State Highway 1, which forms the town's main street, Oxford Street. State Highway 57 forms the eastern boundary of the town, and meets State Highway 1 between Levin and the Ohau River, Wellington.

Levin is on the North Island Main Trunk with a station used by the Capital Connection long distance commuter train between Wellington and Palmerston North. It is also served by 8 InterCity buses a day each way.

Buses run for shoppers to Waikanae on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Fridays to Shannon, Foxton Beach, Foxton and Waitarere Beach. A commuter bus runs via Foxton to Palmerston North.

Schools

There are nine schools in the Levin urban area:

• Fairfield School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of . It opened in 1963.
• Horowhenua College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school with a roll of . It opened in 1940, replacing the secondary department of Levin District High School, which opened in 1905.
• 'Levin East School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of . It opened in 1953.
• Levin Intermediate is a state intermediate (Year 7–8) school with a roll of . It opened in 1971.
• Levin North School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of . It opened in 1954.
• Levin School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of . It opened in 1890. In 1903 it merged with Horowhenua School (which began in 1894 as State Farm School) on a new site. Secondary education was added in 1905, and it became Levin District High School. When Horowhenua College opened in 1940, it went back to being a primary school.
• St Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of . It opened in 1920.
• Taitoko School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of . It opened in 1969.
• Waiopehu College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school.It opened in 1973 and has a roll of . It opened in 1973.

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

Notable people

Main article: People from Levin, New Zealand

• Jack Afamasaga – rugby league player
• Sir Paul Beresford – British politician
• Suzy Clarkson – newsreader
• Kay Cohen – fashion designer
• Joy Cowley – novelist
• Jaxon Evans – racing driver
• Cathryn Finlayson – hockey player
• Rebecca Gibney – actress
• Nathan Guy – politician
• Nicky Hager – author
• Darren Hughes – politician
• Dean Kent – Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer
• Doug Kidd – politician
• David Lomax – rugby league player
• Johnny Lomax – rugby league player
• Matthew Saunoa – New Zealand Idol winner 2006
• George Silk – photographer, LIFE magazine
• Carlos Spencer – rugby union player
• Richard Sylvan – philosopher and logician
• James Tamou – rugby league player
• Codie Taylor – rugby union player
• Roger Twose – cricketer
• Frank Weitzel – printmaker and sculptor
• Sonny Whakarau – rugby league player

Climate

| Jan record high C = 32.6 | Feb record high C = 31.1 | Mar record high C = 31.0 | Apr record high C = 28.7 | May record high C = 24.3 | Jun record high C = 20.6 | Jul record high C = 21.0 | Aug record high C = 20.5 | Sep record high C = 23.0 | Oct record high C = 26.1 | Nov record high C = 27.8 | Dec record high C = 29.7 | year record high C = 32.6 | Jan avg record high C = 27.2 | Feb avg record high C = 26.8 | Mar avg record high C = 25.7 | Apr avg record high C = 22.9 | May avg record high C = 20.1 | Jun avg record high C = 17.4 | Jul avg record high C = 16.4 | Aug avg record high C = 17.1 | Sep avg record high C = 18.9 | Oct avg record high C = 20.6 | Nov avg record high C = 22.7 | Dec avg record high C = 25.3 | year avg record high C = 28.5 | Jan avg record low C = 6.0 | Feb avg record low C = 6.2 | Mar avg record low C = 4.7 | Apr avg record low C = 2.2 | May avg record low C = 0.5 | Jun avg record low C = -1.5 | Jul avg record low C = -1.7 | Aug avg record low C = -1.0 | Sep avg record low C = -0.3 | Oct avg record low C = 1.5 | Nov avg record low C = 2.6 | Dec avg record low C = 5.1 | year avg record low C = -2.4 |Jan record low C = -0.2 |Feb record low C = 0.0 |Mar record low C = -0.6 |Apr record low C = -1.1 |May record low C = -3.9 |Jun record low C = -4.4 |Jul record low C = -5.4 |Aug record low C = -5.3 |Sep record low C = -3.3 |Oct record low C = -2.2 |Nov record low C = 0.0 |Dec record low C = 0.0 |year record low C = -5.4 |access-date = 20 May 2024}}{{cite web |access-date = 20 Jul 2024}}{{cite web |access-date = 5 May 2025}}

References

References

1. [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/L/Levin/Levin/en ''Levin'' in the 1966 ''Encyclopaedia of New Zealand'']
2. "Councillor wants to change the name of Levin, the NZ town that no-one pronounces correctly".
3. Williams, Paul. "High time for a change: Levin town clock gets new motors". [[Horowhenua Chronicle]].
4. Loo, Alex. (6 February 2019). "Levin's iconic clock tower four sheets to the wind after motor failures". [[Manawatū Standard]].
5. "Arrests made following antisocial road user activity, Levin".
6. "Stuff".
7. "'We're coming back': Levin boy racer organiser says more to come".
8. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". [[Te Puni Kōkiri]].
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10. (9 October 2020). "Marae Announcements". [[Provincial Growth Fund]].
11. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
12. {{NZ census 2018. Donnelly Park (234700), Kawiu South (234900), Makomako (235000), Kawiu North (235100), Levin Central (235200), Tararua (235300), Queenwood (Horowhenua District) (235500), Playford Park (235600), Fairfield (Horowhenua District) (235700), Taitoko (235800) and Waiopehu (235900)
13. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
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18. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
19. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
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21. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
22. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
23. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
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25. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
26. "Levin Mall (191–197 Oxford Street)". Thompson Property Group.
27. "Capital Connection".
28. "Search Results".
29. (15 July 2018). "Did you know Horizons Regional Council provides three public bus services in the Horowhenua District?".
30. "Day Out in Town Bus timetable change".
31. {{TKI. 2838. Fairfield School
32. Williams, Paul. (26 May 2023). "Fairfield School rings bell for reunion". [[Horowhenua Chronicle]].
33. {{TKI. 236. Horowhenua College
34. "School History". Horowhenua College.
35. {{TKI. 2886. Levin East School
36. "Home". Levin East School.
37. {{TKI. 2887. Levin Intermediate
38. (11 November 2000). "Foundation staff of Levin Intermediate (1971)". [[Horowhenua Chronicle.
39. {{TKI. 2888. Levin North School
40. {{TKI. 2889. Levin School
41. "Levin School Centennial 1890-1990".
42. {{TKI. 3008. St Joseph's School
43. "About Us". St Joseph's School.
44. {{TKI. 3032. Taitoko School
45. "Opening of Taitoko School 1969". Digital NZ.
46. {{TKI. 237. Waiopehu College
47. "Our School". Waiopehu College.