Stratford District, New Zealand

Stratford District
UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	Map of postcodes
Area code	06
Website	www.stratford.govt.nz

Stratford District is a territorial authority district in the North Island of New Zealand. The Stratford District Council is headquartered in the only town, Stratford. The district is divided between the Manawatū-Whanganui region (including the settlements of Whangamōmona, Marco and Tahora, 31.87% of its land area) and the Taranaki region (68.13% of its land area).

The district has an area of 2,163.42 square kilometres (835.30 sq mi).^[1] The population was 10,300 as of June 2023^[2] which is 0.2% of the population of New Zealand. This comprises 6,320 people in the Stratford urban area, and 3,980 people in rural areas and settlements.

Mayor

Council history

The first Stratford Town Board was formed in 1882.

Past mayors, chairmen, clerks and CEOs

Stratford Town Chairmen

• George Newsham Curtis (1882–1885)
• Charles Stuart Curtis
  (1885–1890)
• Ebenezer Burgess (1890–1892, 1896–1898)
• William Loftus Tocker (1892–1894)
• J B Patton (1894–1896)

Stratford Borough mayors

Stratford County chairmen

Stratford District Council mayors

• David Walter
  (1989–1998)
• Brian Robert Jeffares (1998–2007)
• John Edwards (2007–2009) (Died while in office)
• Neil Volzke (2009–)

Stratford Town Clerks

• Thomas Harry Penn (1898–1902)
• Ernest F Hemingway (1902–1911)
• Phillip Skogland (1911–1936)
• Gerald C Grace (1936–1975)
• P A Tourell (1975–1985)
• F W Bullen (1985–1989)

Stratford County Clerks

• William George Malone (1891–1900)
• Charles Penn (1900–1931)
• C L J Campbell (1931–1945)
• T A Jones (1945–1968)
• Ken J Little (1968–1975)
• MD Bell (1975–1977)
• Ross D Smith (1977–1989)

Stratford District Chief Executives

• Poiha Kemp Broughton (1989–2001)
• Wayne Allan Kimber (2001–2004)
• Michael Roy Freeman (2004–2011)
• Sue Davidson (2011–2014)
• Matt O'Mara (2015–2017)
• Sven Hanne (2017–)

Demographics

Stratford District covers 2,163.42 km² (835.30 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 10,300 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 4.8 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	8,889	—
2013	8,988	+0.16%
2018	9,474	+1.06%
Source: [8]

Stratford District had a population of 9,474 at the

. There were 3,687 households, comprising 4,722 males and 4,752 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 2,043 people (21.6%) aged under 15 years, 1,635 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 4,152 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,644 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.4% European/Pākehā, 14.2% Māori, 1.4% Pacific peoples, 2.5% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.2% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 669 (9.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 2,142 (28.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 924 people (12.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,672 (49.4%) people were employed full-time, 1,080 (14.5%) were part-time, and 270 (3.6%) were unemployed.^[8]

Individual wards

Name	Area (km2)	Population	Density (per km2)	Households	Median age	Median income
Stratford Rural Ward	2,154.89	3,690	1.71	1,365	38.0 years	$35,000
Stratford Urban Ward	8.54	5,784	677.28	2,322	40.6 years	$25,600
New Zealand					37.4 years	$31,800

Physical geography

The Stratford District takes in about one quarter of the Taranaki Region, and includes four major geological features: the

, and the eastern hill country.

Taranaki Volcanic Cone

The south-eastern face of

Mount Taranaki

is in the Stratford district, the north-westernmost point of the district being the 2518 m high peak. From the peak, the boundaries run almost due east and due south.

Pembroke Road winds up the mountain slope from Stratford to a carpark and lookout at "The Plateau", at 1,172 m (3,845 ft)

Manganui skifield

is a short hike from the carpark, across the Manganui Gorge.

On the south-eastern face of the mountain, Manaia Road provides access to Dawson Falls and the Konini Lodge, at 890 m (2,920 ft) altitude. The natural Wilkies Pools are a short hike above the lodge.

Taranaki Volcanic Ring Plain

The Taranaki volcanic ring plain provides a steady contour with a subtle gradient, upon which Stratford and its environs have been settled. The easy gradient and rich

catchment.

Pātea River

The headwaters of the

catchment to the south.

Stratford is on the banks of the

is on the Pātea/Manganui divide.

Beyond Stratford the catchment widens significantly to include a number of ancient swamps, including Ngaere and Toko, and also the Kahouri and Piakau ring plain streams. The river then takes in the expansive eastern hill country catchments of the Toko, Makuri, Mangaehu, Mangaotuku, Puniwhakau and Makahu Streams, before winding its way southwards through the hills of the South Taranaki district, to its mouth at Patea.

Eastern hill country

Beyond Stratford, the district extends approximately 45 km (28 mi) to the east, between the

.

Much of the eastern hill country falls within the catchment of the Pātea River and its tributaries. However, to the north, the district takes in

.

In the east, the district takes in the

. This area is separated from the west by the densely forested Whangamōmona Saddle, making it an isolated and distinctive part of the district, and the area once had its own county council.

To the south-east, the district also takes in the upper reaches of the Waitōtara River catchment, within the Matemateāonga Range and the Waitōtara Conservation Area.

Surrounding settlements

Stratford is surrounded by a number of small villages and settlements. To the north on State Highway 3 are

are to the north-east.

To the east, along State Highway 43 and the Stratford-Okahukura railway, lie settlements that in their heyday were bustling villages.

are to the south and east.

National parks

Stratford is the gateway to two National Parks – Egmont National Park to the west, and Whanganui National Park to the east (via Kohi Saddle, Aotuhia).

Economy

The Egmont Ring Plain provides steady contours and fertile volcanic soils which, together with the high level of rainfall, make for some of the best

).

The energy and tourism industries are both of growing significance to the Stratford District. The Stratford Power Station is located 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the town.

Education

There are two secondary schools in Stratford: Stratford High School and Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls. There are three primary schools within Stratford township: Stratford Primary School, Avon School and St Joseph's School

There are seven primary schools in the surrounding district. Recent years have seen the consolidation of a large number of schools into these seven schools:

• Midhirst School
• Ngaere School
• Pembroke School
• Toko School
• Huiakama School
• Marco School
• Makahu School

Sister cities

Stratford is a member of the Stratford Sister Cities program, which was created to promote friendship and cultural exchange between participating countries. Participation is restricted to places called "Stratford" that have a Shakespeare Theatre or Festival. A reunion is held every second year by a different member.^[9]

The five principal sister cities of Stratford, New Zealand are:

• Stratford-upon-Avon, England
• Stratford, Victoria, Australia
• Stratford, Ontario, Canada
• Stratford, Connecticut, United States
• Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada

References

External links

Media related to Stratford District at Wikimedia Commons