Hira, New Zealand

Hira
Town
St John the Evangelist Church at Hira
St John the Evangelist Church at Hira
Interactive map of Hira
Coordinates: 41°13′S 173°24′E / 41.217°S 173.400°E / -41.217; 173.400
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNelson
Ward
  • Central General Ward
  • Whakatū Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityNelson City Council
 • Mayor of NelsonNick Smith[1]
 • Nelson MPRachel Boyack[2]
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
181.58 km2 (70.11 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)[5]
 • Total
606
 • Density3.34/km2 (8.64/sq mi)

Hira is a small settlement approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Nelson, New Zealand. It sits in the valley of the Wakapuaka River.

Demographics

Hira locality covers 181.58 km2 (70.11 sq mi).[4] It is part of the larger Nelson Rural statistical area.[6]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006525—    
2013531+0.16%
2018543+0.45%
2023606+2.22%
Source: [5][7]

Hira had a population of 606 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (11.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 75 people (14.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 312 males and 300 females in 213 dwellings.[8] 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 111 people (18.3%) aged under 15 years, 69 (11.4%) aged 15 to 29, 327 (54.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 96 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.6% European (Pākehā); 10.9% Māori; 2.0% Pasifika; 4.5% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.0%, Māori by 1.0%, and other languages by 8.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (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.[5]

Religious affiliations were 20.8% Christian, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.8%, and 10.4% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 144 (29.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 261 (52.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 105 (21.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 60 people (12.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 255 (51.5%) full-time, 108 (21.8%) part-time, and 6 (1.2%) unemployed.[5]

Nelson Rural statistical area

Nelson Rural statistical area covers 366.04 km2 (141.33 sq mi),[9] and also includes Todds Valley, Glenduan, Wakapuaka and Pepin Island. It had an estimated population of 2,000 as of June 2025,[10] with a population density of 5.5 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,536—    
20131,704+1.49%
20181,896+2.16%
20231,992+0.99%
Source: [11][12]

Nelson Rural had a population of 1,992 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 96 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 288 people (16.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 990 males, 990 females, and 9 people of other genders in 732 dwellings.[13] 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 333 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 225 (11.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,047 (52.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 390 (19.6%) aged 65 or older.[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.7% European (Pākehā); 9.3% Māori; 1.2% Pasifika; 2.9% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori by 1.4%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 11.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 27.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]

Religious affiliations were 20.8% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.9%, and 9.3% of people did not answer the census question.[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 525 (31.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 843 (50.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 291 (17.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 201 people (12.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 780 (47.0%) full-time, 357 (21.5%) part-time, and 24 (1.4%) unemployed.[11]

Education

Hira School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students.[14][15] It has a roll of 43 as of July 2026.[16] It opened in 1872 as Happy Valley School.[17] The school celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1997.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Amended Official Result for the Nelson Electoral District". New Zealand Gazette. 10 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 7022882, 7022884 and 7022885. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  7. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7022882, 7022884 and 7022885.
  8. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 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. Nelson Rural (303600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Nelson Rural (303600). 2018 Census place summary: Nelson Rural
  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. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Hira School Official School Website". hira.school.nz.
  15. ↑ "Hira School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  16. ↑ "Hira School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  17. ↑ "Education in Nelson - 1842-2012". The Prow. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Gregson, Peggy (1977). Hira School 125th reunion. OCLC 154666788.
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