Levin, New Zealand

Levin (Māori: Taitoko) is the largest town and seat of the Horowhenua District, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located east of Lake Horowhenua, around 95 km north of Wellington and 50 km southwest of Palmerston North.

Levin

Taitoko (Māori)
Secondary urban area
Intersection of Queen and Oxford Streets
Levin
Coordinates: 40°37′19″S 175°17′12″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
Territorial authorityHorowhenua District
WardLevin Ward
Named forWilliam Hort Levin
Area
 • Urban
109.02 km2 (42.09 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2020)[1]
 • Urban
18,800
 • Urban density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Postcode
5510
Area code(s)06

The town has a population of 18,800 (June 2020),[1] making it the 30th largest urban area in New Zealand, and third largest in Manawatū-Whanganui behind Palmerston North and Whanganui.

Levin is a service centre for the surrounding rural area, and a centre for light manufacturing.

To the west of the main town lies Lake Horowhenua, which covers some 3.9 sq/km. It is currently undergoing regeneration.

History and culture

20th century

The Levin township was established in 1906.

The town was named after William Hort Levin, a director of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company.[2]

The name is a variation of the Jewish clan Levi. It is a shibboleth – unlike the usual pronunciation of the surname, stress is placed on the second syllable of the word. However his great grandson, Peter Levin, claims his forebear would have pronounced his surname as in Levene and this pronunciation was in common use for many years and always used by the family.[3]

21st century

The town celebrated its centenary in 2006 and the bowls club celebrated theirs in 2007.

In October 2019, thirty people had to evacuate a public pool after a chemical incident at the local aquatic centre.[4]

Marae

Kawiu Marae and Te Huia o Raukura meeting house, located just north of the Levin township, are a meeting place for Muaūpoko.[5][6]

In October 2020, the Government committed $945,445 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Kawiu Marae and nearby Kohuturoa Marae, creating 50 jobs.[7]

Demographics

The Levin urban area had a population of 17,670 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,416 people (8.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,701 people (10.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 8,346 males and 9,324 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.90 males per female. Of the total population, 3,330 people (18.8%) were aged up to 15 years, 2,991 (16.9%) were 15 to 29, 6,651 (37.6%) were 30 to 64, and 4,698 (26.5%) were 65 or older.[8]

Ethnicities were 77.1% European/Pākehā, 25.5% Māori, 8.4% Pacific peoples, 5.2% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).[8]

Individual statistical areas in Levin (2018 census)[9]
SA2 name Population Dwellings Median age Median income
Donnelly Park 1,191 483 47.5 years $22,300
Fairfield 1,473 597 50.3 years $23,800
Kawiu North 1,770 723 47.5 years $27,900
Kawiu South 2,409 1,026 44.5 years $24,700
Levin Central 1,047 573 53.5 years $21,500
Makomako 1,413 606 42.7 years $20,600
Playford Park 1,815 825 44.8 years $21,800
Queenwood 2,076 993 47.9 years $21,300
Taitoko 1,911 690 35.3 years $20,500
Tararua 1,152 483 47.3 years $24,200
Waiopehu 1,422 567 41.5 years $22,700

Economy

Retail

Levin Mall is a mall covering 791 m², with 14 retailers including a Farmers department store.[10]

Transport

Levin lies on State Highway 1, which forms the town's main street, Oxford Street. State Highway 57 forms the eastern boundary of the town, and meets State Highway 1 between Levin and the Ohau River, Wellington.

Levin is on the North Island Main Trunk with a station used by the Capital Connection long distance commuter train between Wellington and Palmerston North.[11] It is also served by 8 InterCity buses a day each way.[12]

Buses run for shoppers to Waikanae on Tuesdays and Thursdays[13] and on Fridays to Shannon, Foxton Beach, Foxton and Waitarere Beach.[14] A commuter bus runs via Foxton to Palmerston North.[13]

Schools
Further information: List of schools in Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand § Horowhenua District

There are nine schools in the Levin urban area:[15]

  • Fairfield School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately 452.
  • Horowhenua College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school. It opened in 1940 and has a roll of approximately 614.
  • 'Levin East School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately 340.
  • Levin Intermediate is a state intermediate (Year 7–8) school with a roll of approximately 268.
  • Levin North School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately 254.
  • Levin School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately 155.
  • St Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately 144.
  • Taitoko School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately 211.
  • Waiopehu College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school. It opened in 1973 and has a roll of approximately 635.

Notable people

References
  1. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. Levin in the 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
  3. Tuckey, Karoline. "Councillor wants to change the name of Levin, the NZ town that no-one pronounces correctly". stuff.co.nz.
  4. "30 people evacuated after chemical reaction in Levin's public pool". The New Zealand Herald. October 28, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  5. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  6. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  7. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  8. "Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas)". nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  9. "2018 Census place summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  10. "Levin Mall (191-197 Oxford Street)". thompsonpropertygroup.co.nz. Thompson Property Group.
  11. "Capital Connection". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  12. "Search Results". www.intercity.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  13. "Did you know Horizons Regional Council provides three public bus services in the Horowhenua District?" (PDF). 15 July 2018.
  14. "Day Out in Town Bus timetable change". Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  15. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
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