Horowhenua’s population growing

Latest data from Statistics New Zealand shows that over the year Horowhenua’s population has risen by 1.6 percent to nearly 32,000 residents.

This equals approximately 500 new residents, whereas since the year 2000 the annual increase had been around only 100 people.

Horowhenua Economic Development Board chairperson Cameron Lewis said that while 1.6 percent may not seem significant, it is quite a turnaround compared to the District’s previous annual population growth of just 0.2%.

Mr Lewis said that more people are being attracted to Horowhenua due to its relatively affordable housing, as well as improving transport linkages south to Wellington.

He said that higher levels of housing investment in the District had been quite noticeable.

A total of 68 new residential building consents were issued in Horowhenua in the three months to September 2016, compared with 50 in the same period last year. Over the year, the number of consents in the District increased by 83%, whereas nationally the number of consents increased by only 14%.

Signalling that it is not just retired people relocating to Horowhenua, but also young families, local schools had experienced increasing student numbers. School rolls increased by 1.4% for the year ended July 2016, another turnaround as rolls had been declining in previous years.

Poroutawhao School is one school in-particular that has seen noticeable roll growth during the past 18 months.

Board of Trustees chairperson Sam Ferguson says that since early 2015 the school’s role has increased from just over 120 students to just over 150.

“The growth appears to be a combination of reasons - new dwellings in the area, predominantly at Waitarere Beach, as well as beach houses previously used as holiday homes that now have permanent residents,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The increase in student numbers does increase operational funding to help with day-to-day costs, but it has also enabled the school to employ a new teacher.

Mr Ferguson said the board of trustees is performing analysis and planning to determine what the school roll could look like in the next few years and how the school will respond.

“Being a country school, Poroutawhao School is committed to the local community and ensuring the country school feeling continues to be a unique characteristic,” he said.

New Zealand Institute of Economic Research growth assumptions for Horowhenua are that by 2036 the District’s population will increase by 8600 people, the number of households will increase by 4900, and 3000 new jobs will be created.

Mr Lewis says that with the first section of the Kapiti Expressway opening soon, reducing travel times to and from Wellington, Horowhenua is an attractive option.

“Horowhenua offers affordable housing and great lifestyle opportunities, as well as offering a strategic business location,” he said.

“Businesses, particularly in the service and construction industries, are already seeing the opportunity. Because staff can afford home ownership here, they are willing to stay long-term, making the workforce far more stable.

“This growth is a winning situation for everyone in the community - residents and ratepayers, as well as businesses and investors.

“There are not a lot of negatives and a lot to be excited about. I think we are in a great space.”

ENDS

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