Brunswick, New Zealand
Brunswick is a rural community in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.
It is located about north-west of Whanganui, and includes lifestyle blocks and livestock farming.
History
The first European settlers to the area were the Campbell family, who arrived in February 1853 from the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They began farming 225 acres, which they called Brunswick farm; it later became a name for the whole area.Politician John Bryce purchased a farm in Brunswick in 1851, following a short time in the Australian goldfields. He continued farming there for 50 years, including during his time as a local MP, the Minister of Native Affairs and the Leader of the Opposition.
In 1865, settler and provincial councillor James Hewett was killed by Māori, prompting European settlers to build four fortifications in the area.
In November 1871, Bryce personally directed the invasion of the Māori settlement of Parihaka and the arrest of the leaders of the movement, in line with his strict legal action against non-compliant Māori following the New Zealand Wars.
The National Library of New Zealand holds records of horses, cattle and gardens at Brunswick in the early 20th century, most from the Motohau Station farm.
In the 1930s, local dairy farms would deliver milk and cream by horse-drawn cart for local households.≈
Brunswick has a war memorial for the 12 local men who died in World War I and the three locals who died in World War II.
Demographics
Brunswick locality covers. It is part of the larger Brunswick-Papaiti statistical area.Brunswick had a population of 216 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 48 people since the 2013 census. There were 105 males and 111 females in 72 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 49.8 years. There were 42 people aged under 15 years, 27 aged 15 to 29, 102 aged 30 to 64, and 48 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 95.8% European ; 8.3% Māori; 4.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 1.4%, and other languages by 5.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian, and 1.4% Islam. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.2%, and 12.5% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 42 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 93 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 87 full-time, 33 part-time, and 3 unemployed.
Brunswick-Papaiti statistical area
Brunswick-Papaiti statistical area, which also includes Westmere, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.Brunswick-Papaiti had a population of 1,479 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 162 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 249 people since the 2013 census. There were 744 males, 732 females, and 3 people of other genders in 552 dwellings. 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.7 years. There were 222 people aged under 15 years, 210 aged 15 to 29, 744 aged 30 to 64, and 303 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.9% European ; 11.4% Māori; 0.8% Pasifika; 2.6% Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 4.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.2%, Māori by 2.4%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 6.1%. No language could be spoken by 0.8%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 35.1% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.3%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 285 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 729 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 243 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $43,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 162 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 648 full-time, 228 part-time, and 15 unemployed.