Southland District is a territorial authority district in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

that covers the south of the

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

as well as

Stewart Island/Rakiura Stewart Island ( mi, Rakiura, ' glowing skies', officially Stewart Island / Rakiura) is New Zealand's third-largest island, located south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait. It is a roughly triangular island with a total land ar ...

History

Southland District was formed through the

1989 local government reforms The 1989 New Zealand local government reform was the most significant reform of local government in New Zealand in over a century. Some 850 local bodies were amalgamated into 86 local authorities, made up of regional and territorial levels. Backg ...

. Four local authorities were amalgamated at that time: Wallace County, Winton Borough, Stewart Island County and most of

Southland County Southland County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the South Island. Created in 1876, it was in the eastern part of Southland Region. Surrounding counties were Wallace County, Lake County, Vincent County, Tuapeka County and Clutha County. ...

. John Casey, who was first elected onto Southland County Council in 1977, oversaw the amalgamation and was elected Southland District's first

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

in 1989. Winton Wallacetown Ward was renamed Oreti Ward with effect from the Council election on 12 October 2019. The Oreti River flows through this ward.

Geography

Southland District covers the majority of the land area of

Southland Region Southland ( mi, Murihiku) is New Zealand's southernmost region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura. It includes Southland District, Gore District and the city of Invercargill. The r ...

, although the region also covers Gore District, Invercargill City and adjacent territorial waters. It has a land area of 29,574.53 km², excluding inland waters such as

Lake Te Anau Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The lake covers an area of , making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand (after Lake Taupō) and the largest in the South Island. It is the larg ...

Lake Manapouri Lake Manapouri is located in the South Island of New Zealand. The lake is situated within the Fiordland National Park and the wider region of Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Māori History According to Māori people, ...

, and Lake Hauroko. Southland District contains the islands south of

Foveaux Strait The Foveaux Strait, (, or , ) separates Stewart Island, New Zealand's third largest island, from the South Island. The strait is about 130 km long (from Ruapuke Island to Little Solander Island), and it widens (from 14 km at Ruapuk ...

: *

Solander Islands The Solander Islands / Hautere are three uninhabited volcanic islets toward the western end of the Foveaux Strait just beyond New Zealand's South Island. The Māori name ''Hautere'' translates into English as "flying wind". The islands lie so ...

Ruapuke Island Ruapuke Island is one of the southernmost islands in New Zealand's main chain of islands. It lies to the southeast of Bluff and northeast of Oban on Stewart Island/Rakiura. It was named "Bench Island" upon its discovery by Captain James Cook i ...

The seat of the District Council is

Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...

, which, however, is not part of Southland District, but a

territorial authority Territorial authorities are the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. There are 67 territorial authorities: 13 city councils, 53 district councils and the Chatham Islands Council. District councils serve a c ...

in its own right. Two of New Zealand's largest national parks are within the boundaries of Southland District:

Fiordland National Park Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is by far the largest of the 13 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of , and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site. The park i ...

, and

Rakiura National Park Rakiura National Park is a nature reserve park located on Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand. It is the newest National parks of New Zealand, national park of New Zealand and opened in 2002. The protected area covers about 85% of the island. ...

(which covers most of

Urban areas and settlements

The Southland District has three towns with a population over 1,000. Together they are home to % of the district's population. Other settlements and localities in the district include:

Mararoa Waimea Ward

* Five Rivers Area: ** Athol **

Castlerock Castlerock is a seaside village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is five miles west of Coleraine, and part of Causeway Coast and Glens district. It is very popular with summer tourists, with numerous apartment blocks and two caravan ...

** Eyre Creek ** Fairlight ** Five Rivers ** Garston ** Josephville ** Lowther ** Lumsden **

Mossburn Mossburn is a small town in the northern Southland region of New Zealand. It is situated 113 km south of Queenstown, 59 km east of Te Anau and 100 km north of Invercargill. The town is located in a very scenic area, with the moun ...

** Nokomai ** Parawa ** Saint Patricks * Te Anau Area: ** Cascade Creek **

Knobs Flat Knob or KNOB may refer to: Objects * A round handle ** Doorknob ** Control knob, controls a device ** Brodie knob, on a steering wheel * Tow ball or hitch ball * Dorset knob, a biscuit Landforms * A rounded hill or mountain, particularly in ...

Manapouri Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. The township is the westernmost municipality in New Zealand. Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern ...

Milford Sound Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is a fiord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It has been judged the world's top tra ...

Te Anau Te Anau is a town in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. In Maori, Te-Anau means the Place of the Swirling Waters. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Te Anau is 155 kilometres north of Invercargill an ...

** The Key * Waikaia Area: **

Ardlussa Ardlussa is a hamlet and estate on The Long Road, just north of the Lussa River, overlooking Ardlussa Bay on the east coast of the island of Jura, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Estate buildings line the road, and the area fe ...

** Balfour ** Kauhoe ** Riversdale **

Waikaia Waikaia, formerly known as Switzers, is a town in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. From 1909 until 1959, it was the terminus of the Waikaia Branch railway. The population in the 2013 census was 99, unchanged from the previo ...

** Wendon ** Wendonside

Waiau Aparima Ward

* Riverton Area: **

Colac Bay Colac Bay / Ōraka is a small township situated on the bay of the same name facing Foveaux Strait, and located on the Southern Scenic Route, 10 minutes from Riverton, New Zealand. Surrounding areas include Longwood, Tihaka, Waipango, Round Hil ...

** Gummies Bush **

Orepuki Orepuki in Southland, New Zealand is a small country township on the coast of Te Waewae Bay some 20 minutes from Riverton, 15 minutes from Tuatapere and 50 minutes from Invercargill that sits at the foot of the Longwood Range. Once a thriving ...

Pahia Pahia is a small rural locality in coastal Southland, New Zealand, not to be confused with the North Island tourist resort of Paihia. Surrounding areas include Ruahine, Wakapatu, Round Hill, Colac Bay and Orepuki. The main road, Orepuki-Riverton H ...

** Riverton/Aparima ** Thornbury ** Waipango * Tuatapere Area: ** Blackmount **

Clifden Clifden (, meaning "stepping stones") is a coastal town in County Galway, Ireland, in the region of Connemara, located on the Owenglin River where it flows into Clifden Bay. As the largest town in the region, it is often referred to as "the Cap ...

** Merrivale ** Monowai ** Papatotara ** Piko Piko ** Pukemaori ** Te Tua ** Te Waewae **

Tuatapere Tuatapere is a small rural town in Southland, New Zealand. It is the self declared "Sausage Capital of New Zealand". Tuatapere is located eight kilometres from the southern coast. The Waiau River flows through the town before reaching Te Waewa ...

* Wallace Area: ** Drummond ** Fairfax ** Isla Bank ** Nightcaps **

Ohai Ohai is a town in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island, 65 kilometres northwest of Invercargill and 25 kilometres west of Winton. History Origins of name The literal meaning of ''Ohai'' is unclear, but a mural in the town centr ...

** Otahuti **

Otautau Otautau is a small farming, forestry and milling town located inland on the western edge of the Southland Plains of New Zealand on the banks of the Aparima River. Otautau is located approximately north west of Invercargill. The average elevatio ...

Wairio Wairio is a town in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island ...

Wreys Bush Wreys Bush (also known as Annandale) is a town near Winton, New Zealand and 8 minutes' drive from Nightcaps, Southland, New Zealand. History Wreys Bush was named after Walter Wrey. It was formerly known as Run153 or described as "wastelands of ...

Waihopai Toetoe Ward

* Toetoes Area: **

Curio Bay Curio Bay is a coastal embayment in the Southland District of New Zealand, best known as the site of a petrified forest some 180 million years old. It also hosts a yellow-eyed penguin colony, arguably the rarest of penguin species, with approxim ...

Fortification A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

Fortrose Fortrose (; gd, A' Chananaich, sco, Chainry) is a town and former royal burgh in Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is on the Moray Firth, about north-east of Inverness. The burgh is a popular location for trying to spot bottlenose dolp ...

** Glenham ** Haldane ** Mokoreta **

Niagara Niagara may refer to: Geography Niagara Falls and nearby places In both the United States and Canada *Niagara Falls, the famous waterfalls in the Niagara River *Niagara River, part of the U.S.–Canada border *Niagara Escarpment, the cliff ov ...

** Otara ** Pine Bush ** Pukewao ** Quarry Hills **

Redan Redan (a French word for "projection", "salient") is a feature of fortifications. It is a work in a V-shaped salient angle towards an expected attack. It can be made from earthworks or other material. The redan developed from the lunette, ...

Slope Point Slope Point is the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand. Slope Point lies just south of the small settlements of Waikawa and Haldane, near the southwestern edge of the Catlins and Toetoes Bay and 71 km (40 mi) east ...

** Titiroa **

Te Peka Te Peka is a locality in the Southland, New Zealand, Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated on the western edge of the Catlins region, with Waimahaka to the west, Fortrose, New Zealand, Fortrose to the southwest, and Pukew ...

** Tokanui **

Waipapa Point Waipapa Point is a rocky promontory on the south coast of Foveaux Strait, the South Island of New Zealand. It is located southeast of the mouth of the Mataura River, at the extreme southwestern end of the area known as the Catlins The C ...

** Waikawa **

Waimahaka Waimahaka is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated in a rural area, inland from Toetoes Bay. Nearby settlements include Pine Bush and Titiroa to the northwest, Fortification and Te Peka to the east, ...

** Wyndham * Waihopai Area: **

Ashers Ashers is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated east of Invercargill on the Southern Scenic Route as it runs between Kapuka and Gorge Road. Other nearby settlements include Oteramika to the north a ...

** Dacre **

Gorge Road Gorge Road is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is on the Southern Scenic Route and is situated on the western bank of the Mataura River. Nearby settlements include Ashers to the west, and across the Mataura ...

Grove Bush Grove Bush is a village in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the banks of the Makarewa River on the Southland Plains near the foothills of the Hokonui Hills. The village's main feature is its community hall ...

** Kapuka **

Kapuka South Kapuka South is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated on Toetoes Bay and Waituna Lagoon. Kapuka and Ashers are to the north on the Southern Scenic Route. Economy Agriculture figures prominently in ...

** Longbush **

Mabel Bush Mabel Bush is a small community in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. The community has an estimated population of 127 people. The main building in the area is the Mabel Bush Hall, which consists of the hall and tennis courts ...

Mokotua Mokotua is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated in a rural area east of Invercargill, between Timpanys and Kapuka on the Southern Scenic Route. To the south are Toetoes Bay and Waituna Lagoon; Rim ...

Oteramika Oteramika is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is in a rural setting near Waituna and Woodlands to the north, Rimu to the west, and to the south on the Southern Scenic Route are Mokotua, Kapuka, and Ashers. ...

Rakahouka Rakahouka is a community in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located in a fertile farming area on the Southland Plains just south of the Makarewa River. The nearest major city, Invercargill, is approximately 15 k ...

Rimu ''Dacrydium cupressinum'', commonly known as rimu, is a large evergreen coniferous tree endemic to the forests of New Zealand. It is a member of the southern conifer group, the podocarps. The Māori name ''rimu'' comes from the Polynesian ...

** Roslyn Bush ** Timpanys **

Woodlands Woodlands may back refer to: * Woodland, a low-density forest Geography Australia * Woodlands, New South Wales * Woodlands, Ashgrove, Queensland, a heritage-listed house associated with John Henry Pepper * Woodlands, Marburg, Queensland, a her ...

* Te Tipua Area: ** Brydone ** Edendale ** Glencoe ** Menzies Ferry ** Morton Mains ** Ota Creek ** Seaward Downs **

Te Tipua Te Tipua is a locality in the eastern Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is west of the nearest town, Mataura, and northeast of Southland's major centre, Invercargill. passes through Te Tipua as it runs between Waitane and its jun ...

Waitane Waitane is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island in the foothills of the Hokonui Hills. It is located in a rural setting on between Glencoe and Te Tipua. The nearest sizeable town is Mataura to the east, while the mai ...

Oreti Ward

* Wallacetown Area: **

Branxholme Branxholme is a hamlet in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, overlooking the River Teviot, three miles southwest of Hawick, on the A7 road to Langholm. Nearby are Ale Water, Alemoor Loch, Burnfoot, Borthwick Water, Colterscleugh Monumen ...

** Lochiel **

Makarewa Makarewa is a small community north of Invercargill (the southernmost city in the South Island within Southland of New Zealand). History Makarewa was formerly the junction of two branch line railways, where the Tuatapere Branch diverged from t ...

Ryal Bush __NOTOC__ Ryal or Ryals may refer to: Places * Ryal, Northumberland, England Currency * Rose Ryal, an English gold coin equal to 30 shillings * Spur ryal, an English gold coin equal to 15 shillings * Zanzibari ryal, the currency of Zanzibar betwee ...

** Spar Bush ** Tussock Creek **

Waianiwa Waianiwa is a town and statistical area in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. Demographics Waianiwa statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Waian ...

Wallacetown Wallacetown is a small town in Southland, in the South Island of New Zealand. Wallacetown is to the west of Invercargill, on high ground between the Makarewa and Ōreti rivers, near the Ōreti's estuary. Both rivers are popular for trout and w ...

Waimatuku Waimatuku is a small Southland, New Zealand farming community on the Southern Scenic Route, on between Invercargill and Riverton. The community's name is Māori for "water of the bittern". It is home to the Waimatuku Pipe Band and the Waima ...

* Winton Area: ** Benmore ** Browns ** Caroline **

Centre Bush Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricit ...

** Dipton ** Dipton West ** Hedgehope ** Kauana **

Lady Barkly The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...

** Limehills ** Oreti Plains ** Otapiri ** South Hillend **

Springhills Springhills is a locality in the central Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. Situated in a gap between Forest Hill and the Hokonui Hills, it is located on 29 kilometres west of near Mataura and 15 kilometres east of at Winton. ...

** Winton

Stewart Island-Rakiura Ward

Oban Oban ( ; ' in Scottish Gaelic meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William. During the tourist season, th ...

Port Pegasus Port Pegasus, officially Port Pegasus / Pikihatiti, (formerly South Port) is at the southern end of Stewart Island in New Zealand. From the 1890s to the 1950s, Port Pegasus was the site of a small fishing community. There was also a small tin ...

(uninhabited) * Port William (uninhabited)

Demographics

Southland District covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². Southland District had a population of 30,864 at the

2018 New Zealand census Eighteen or 18 may refer to: * 18 (number), the natural number following 17 and preceding 19 * one of the years 18 BC, AD 18, 1918, 2018 Film, television and entertainment * ''18'' (film), a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film based on the sho ...

, an increase of 1,251 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,427 people (8.5%) since the

2006 census 6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number. In mathematics Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...

. There were 11,982 households. There were 16,029 males and 14,835 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 39.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6,534 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 5,262 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 14,436 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 4,635 (15.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 88.1% European/Pākehā, 11.1% Māori, 1.1% Pacific peoples, 6.2% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.6, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 51.7% had no religion, 38.4% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 3,363 (13.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 5,739 (23.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3,732 people (15.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 13,956 (57.4%) people were employed full-time, 4,053 (16.7%) were part-time, and 519 (2.1%) were unemployed.

Government

Mayor

The current district mayor is Rob Scott. He has held this position since 2022.

Council

The district council is made up of twelve elected members, from various ward areas, and like any other local authority is elected every three years.

Sister cities

Current sister city

Cinque Terre The Cinque Terre (; lij, Çinque Tære, meaning "Five Lands") is a coastal area within Liguria, in the northwest of Italy. It lies in the west of La Spezia Province, and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, ...

La Spezia La Spezia (, or , ; in the local Spezzino dialect) is the capital city of the province of La Spezia and is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the southern part of the Liguria region of Italy. La Spezia is the second largest city ...

Liguria Liguria (; lij, Ligûria ; french: Ligurie) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is ...

Former sister city

Wyong Shire Wyong Shire was a local government area located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The incorporation of the Wyong area dates back to 7 March 1906 when the entire area of the Brisbane Water Police District outside of the ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Southland District was a

sister city A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inter ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

until 2010.

References

External links

Southland District Council official website
{{Cities and districts of New Zealand