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West Plains is a locality in the Southland Region of New Zealand, northwest of Invercargill and north of Otatara. Ōreti River and its tributary Makarewa River flow through the plains.[1] It is part of the Southland Plains.

West Plains
Locality
Coordinates: 46.369°S 168.312°E / -46.369; 168.312
Country	New Zealand
Region	Southland
Territorial authority	Invercargill
Government
• Territorial Authority	Invercargill City Council
• Regional council	Southland Regional Council
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

West Plains School was established c.1882.[2] It was merged to Grasmere School in January 2005.[3]

Demographics

West Plains-Makarewa statistical area covers 87.87 km² (33.93 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 1,730 as of June 2021,[5] with a population density of 20 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,365	—
2013	1,509	+1.44%
2018	1,608	+1.28%
Source: [6]

West Plains-Makarewa had a population of 1,608 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 99 people (6.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 243 people (17.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 594 households. There were 852 males and 756 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.13 males per female. The median age was 45.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 297 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 207 (12.9%) aged 15 to 29, 873 (54.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 231 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.0% European/Pākehā, 11.8% Māori, 2.1% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 7.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 52.1% had no religion, 37.9% were Christian, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (13.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 345 (26.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 249 people (19.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 756 (57.7%) people were employed full-time, 237 (18.1%) were part-time, and 30 (2.3%) were unemployed.[6]

References

External links

• West Plains in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (1905)

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