Longlands is a rural community in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. The area is on the southern and western outskirts of Hastings city.

Longlands
Rural community
Apple boxes at Longlands
Coordinates: 39.660°S 176.834°E / -39.660; 176.834
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay Region
Territorial authority	Hastings District
Ward	Heretaunga
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	2,253
Postcode(s)	4172, 4174, 4175, 4178

The Longlands Estate occupied much of the land around 1880,[2] but was broken up into smaller farms and a freezing works in the early 20th century.[3][4][5]

The area is a centre for growing fruit and vegetables.[6]

Demographics

Longlands, comprising the statistical areas of Irongate and Longlands-Pukahu, which cover 40 square kilometres and also include Pakipaki, had a population of 2,253 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 204 people (10.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 162 people (7.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 762 households. There were 1,182 males and 1,074 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female, with 426 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 366 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,071 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 396 (17.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 82.3% European/Pākehā, 20.1% Māori, 5.9% Pacific peoples, 2.9% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 16.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 46.5% had no religion, 43.8% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 3.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 345 (18.9%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 309 (16.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,008 (55.2%) people were employed full-time, 318 (17.4%) were part-time, and 39 (2.1%) were unemployed.[1]

Railway station

Longlands flag station on the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line opened in 1912, after a deputation met the Minister of Railways,[9] following the opening of a sheep and cattle yard in 1911.[10][11] The line through Longlands, from Hastings to Paki Paki, had opened on 1 January 1875,[12] the last works being to complete the bridge over the nearby Irongate Stream, formerly the Ngaruroro River.[13][14] The piles of that bridge sank soon after construction.[15] A shelter shed was built at Longlands in 1905,[11] to the south of Longlands Road.[16] In 1936 Longlands was a main centre for railing cattle.[17] In 1947 frame levers at Longlands tablet locked siding were fitted with chains, staples, and a points lock.[11] The station closed to all traffic on 18 May 1980, but a service siding was retained for about a decade.[12]

References