Elsdon, New Zealand
Elsdon | |
|---|---|
Elsdon and the surrounding area, seen in the back right, viewed from Aotea Lagoon. | |
Interactive map of Elsdon | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington |
| City | Porirua City |
| Local authority | Porirua City Council |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Area | |
| • Land | 113 ha (280 acres) |
| Population (2023 census)[2] | |
• Total | 903 |
| • Density | 799/km2 (2,070/sq mi) |
| Takapūwāhia | ||
| Colonial Knob |
Elsdon
|
Porirua CBD |
| Kenepuru |
Elsdon is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Porirua located immediately to the west to of the city's CBD. The area was named after Elsdon Best, a historian who studied archaeological sites in the area.[3] Its industrial area, the largest in the city,[4] is known for housing the factory used by New Zealand chocolate company Whittaker's; constructed in 1969, it remains the company's sole production site to this day.[5]
Demographics
Elsdon covers 1.13 km2 (0.44 sq mi).[1] Most of Elsdon is part of the Porirua Central area, but the majority of its population is in the Elsdon-Takapuwahia statistical area.[6]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 861 | — |
| 2013 | 849 | −0.20% |
| 2018 | 954 | +2.36% |
| 2023 | 903 | −1.09% |
| Source: [2][7] | ||
Elsdon had a population of 903 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 51 people (−5.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 54 people (6.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 438 males, 456 females, and 6 people of other genders in 276 dwellings.[8] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 183 people (20.3%) aged under 15 years, 222 (24.6%) aged 15 to 29, 390 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 114 (12.6%) aged 65 or older.[2]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 48.5% European (Pākehā); 34.6% Māori; 26.2% Pasifika; 16.6% Asian; 3.7% 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 94.0%, Māori by 10.0%, Samoan by 7.6%, and other languages by 14.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[2]
Religious affiliations were 33.9% Christian, 1.3% Hindu, 2.7% Islam, 3.3% Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 45.2%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.[2]
Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (20.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 360 (50.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 204 (28.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 39 people (5.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 363 (50.4%) full-time, 96 (13.3%) part-time, and 36 (5.0%) unemployed.[2]
Education
Porirua School, a co-educational state primary school for Years 1 to 6, is located in Elsdon.[9] The roll was 149 as of October 2025.[10] It started in 1863 in Paremata and moved to its current site in 1958.[11]
High school students living in Elsdon are zoned for the state secondary school Mana College in Takapūwāhia.[12]
References
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7019539, 7019540, 7019577, 7019578, 7018579, 7019580 and 7019582. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Elsdon". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessment" (PDF). Kapiti Coast District Council. p. 210. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Whittaker's factory expands". Scoop. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7019539, 7019540, 7019577, 7019578, 7018579, 7019580 and 7019582.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Porirua School". EducationCounts. New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "About Us". Porirua School. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Mana College". EducationCounts. New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 24 April 2021.