Wilton, New Zealand
Wilton | |
|---|---|
Wilton from the north-east in 2025 | |
Interactive map of Wilton | |
| Coordinates: 41°16′05″S 174°45′25″E / 41.26816°S 174.756944°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Wellington |
| Local authority | Wellington City Council |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Area | |
| • Land | 126 ha (310 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 2,170 |
| • Density | 1,720/km2 (4,460/sq mi) |
| Postcode | 6012 |
| Crofton Downs | ||
|
Wilton
|
Wadestown, Thorndon | |
| Northland | Karori |
Wilton is a small suburb in Wellington, New Zealand. It is best known for Ōtari-Wilton's Bush, a large reserve that is situated in the suburb. Ōtari-Wilton's bush is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. It features 14 km of walking tracks and a 'canopy walkway'. The canopy walkway is a raised walkway that provides a unique chance to view life in, and from, the top level of trees such as mature tawa, rewarewa and hinau.
History
Job Wilton was a sheep farmer; in 1861 he had a flock of 165 sheep, to be washed in the Kaiwharawhara Stream before shearing.[3] He subdivided his farm in 1915, but Wilton was semi-rural to the 1930s with little housing development until after World War II. A Sunday trip to Wilton's Bush and Chapman's Gardens (now the Otari Plant Museum) required walking from the Wadestown tram terminus. From 1944 a feeder bus ran from the terminus. A school opened in 1956. Wilton House in Blackbridge Road was built for Courtenay Place chemist Mr O'Connor and his sister in 1925.[4]
Demographics
Wilton statistical area covers 1.26 km2 (0.49 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 2,170 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,722 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,034 | — |
| 2013 | 2,049 | +0.11% |
| 2018 | 2,205 | +1.48% |
| 2023 | 2,127 | −0.72% |
| Source: [5][6] | ||
Wilton had a population of 2,127 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 78 people (−3.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 78 people (3.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,026 males, 1,080 females, and 21 people of other genders in 849 dwellings.[7] 8.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 333 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 462 (21.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,047 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 279 (13.1%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.6% European (Pākehā); 10.6% Māori; 4.9% Pasifika; 7.9% Asian; 3.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 3.5%, Samoan by 1.4%, and other languages by 18.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 28.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 22.7% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 2.0% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, 0.3% Jewish, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.3%, and 5.1% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,008 (56.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 609 (33.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 171 (9.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $61,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 480 people (26.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,071 (59.7%) full-time, 216 (12.0%) part-time, and 45 (2.5%) unemployed.[5]
Education
School enrolment zone
Wilton is within the enrolment zones for Wellington College, Wellington Girls' College, Wellington High School, Onslow College, St Oran's College and the Otari School.[8]
Primary school
Ōtari School (Te Kura o Ōtari) is a state-funded full-primary school nestled next to the Otari-Wilton's Bush.[9] Since 1992 the school has encompassed three teaching strands: Montessori, Māori Immersion and the standard New Zealand curriculum.[10] It had a roll of 211 as of October 2025.[11] It opened in 1956 as Wilton School, and changed its name in 1999.[10]
Transportation
Wilton is served by multiple bus services:
- No 4 Strathmore - Mairangi [12]
- No 13 Mairangi - Brandon Street[13]
- No 14 Wilton - Kilbirnie[14]
- No 22 Johnsonville - Wellington[15]
- No N4 Night service Wellington - Khandallah[16]
Churches
The Catholic Parish of Ōtari has one church in Wilton - St Thomas More, in Worcester Street.[17]
Further reading
- Bremner, Julie (1983). Wellington’s Northern Suburbs 1840-1918. Wellington: Millwood Press. ISBN 0-908582-59-5.
- Bremner, Julie (1987). Wellington’s Northern Suburbs 1919-1945. Wellington: Millwood Press. ISBN 0-908582-80-3.
References
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ Bremner 1983, p. 28.
- ^ Bremner 1987, pp. 22, 36, 67.
- ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Wilton (250100). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Wilton (250100). 2018 Census place summary: Wilton
- ^ "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.
- ^ "eLearning Schools Search". Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Otari School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ^ a b "Original Strand". Ōtari School. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "» Metlink". www.metlink.org.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "» Metlink". www.metlink.org.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "» Metlink". www.metlink.org.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "» Metlink". www.metlink.org.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "» Metlink". www.metlink.org.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Catholic Parish of Otari | Archdiocese of Wellington". 30 October 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2024.