Fordlands
Fordlands | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Fordlands | |
| Coordinates: 38°08′42″S 176°13′26″E / 38.145°S 176.224°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Rotorua |
| Local authority | Rotorua Lakes Council |
| Electoral ward | Te Ipu Wai Auraki General Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 99 ha (240 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 2,800 |
| • Density | 2,800/km2 (7,300/sq mi) |
| Pukehangi | Mangakakahi | |
| Sunnybrook |
  Fordlands  |
Utuhina |
| Pomare | Matipo Heights | Hillcrest |
Fordlands is a western suburb of Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
The area is named for Harry Ford (1878-1969), whose model dairy farm became the suburb.[3]
It was described in 2017 as the most deprived suburb in New Zealand.[4] The suburb was an inspiration for the novel Once Were Warriors by Alan Duff.[5]
Demographics
[edit]Fordlands covers 0.99 km2 (0.38 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,800 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 2,828 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,307 | — |
| 2013 | 2,118 | −1.21% |
| 2018 | 2,460 | +3.04% |
| 2023 | 2,667 | +1.63% |
| Source: [6][7] | ||
Fordlands had a population of 2,667 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 207 people (8.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 549 people (25.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,287 males, 1,362 females, and 18 people of other genders in 750 dwellings.[8] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 29.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 711 people (26.7%) aged under 15 years, 639 (24.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,062 (39.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 255 (9.6%) aged 65 or older.[6]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 32.8% European (Pākehā); 70.3% Māori; 15.0% Pasifika; 6.4% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 94.9%, Māori by 23.7%, Samoan by 1.8%, and other languages by 6.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[6]
Religious affiliations were 31.7% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 7.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.1%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.[6]
Of those at least 15 years old, 156 (8.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,080 (55.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 723 (37.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 33 people (1.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 795 (40.6%) full-time, 198 (10.1%) part-time, and 183 (9.4%) unemployed.[6]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ↑ "Rotorua Central Area: Build Heritage Study" (PDF). Rotorua Lakes Council. p. 1. Retrieved 20 December 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Flood, Ben (10 November 2017). "The locals proud to call Fordlands home". Rotorua Daily Post.
- ↑ Biddle, Donna-Lee (4 November 2018). "Welcome to Fordlands, the Rotorua suburb that inspired Once Were Warriors". Stuff.
- 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. Fordlands (199700). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Fordlands (199700). 2018 Census place summary: Fordlands
- ↑ "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.