Norsewood

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Norsewood
Photograph of Stave Church.
Stave church replica on Coronation Street.
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 40°04′S 176°13′E / 40.067°S 176.217°E / -40.067; 176.217
Country New Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
Territorial authorityTararua District
Government
 • Tararua MayorTracey Collis
 • Wairarapa MPKieran McAnulty
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPMeka Whaitiri
Area
 • Total0.38 km2 (0.15 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total135
 • Density360/km2 (920/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
4974

Norsewood is a small rural settlement in the Tararua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. The town is situated east of the Ruahine Mountain range and is located 20 kilometres northeast of Dannevirke.

Geography[]

Lower Norsewood, Hovding Street and Norsewear

The Norsewood area, as defined by Statistics New Zealand, covers 397.35 km², including the township and the surrounding rural hinterland.[1]

The source of the Manawatu River is located behind the settlement, at the end of Manawatu River Road, forming the natural boundary for the region and Hawke's Bay to the north.

The village consists of two parts. Upper Norsewood features the town's main road, Coronation Street, a gift shop, a visitor's centre and a Pioneer Museum housed in an 1888 building. Lower Norsewood, located 1 km to the south, features Hovding Street and Norsewear, a company which provides woolen garments in Norwegian designs.[3]

Upper and Lower Norsewood lie on either side of State Highway 2.[4]

History[]

Early settlement[]

Norsewood was founded by mainly Norwegian settlers in 1872 as a loggers settlement, and retains a Scandinavian tenor.[5] The village was carved out of the forest, and was subsequently destroyed in a fire in 1888.[6][3]

The government of New Zealand requested Norwegian immigrants and made an agreement with Winge & Co. in Christiania, which would allow for 3,000 emigrants to New Zealand. In the years 1870–76, nearly 1,000 Norwegians moved to the Norsewood area.[7]

Modern township[]

The settlement continues celebrate its Scandinavian culture. A Scandinavian festival is held every year.[8] Traditional celebrations of Norway's Constitution Day is held on the Sunday closest to 17 May.[9]

The main square by Coronation Street welcomes visitors to "Little Norway", and a Norwegian flag flies from the street's tourist office.[8] The Bindalsfaering, a fishing boat gifted by the Norwegian Government, is displayed in a glassed boat-house in Upper Norsewood, near a replica of a Norwegian stave church.[4]

Demography[]

Norsewood is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 0.38 km2 (0.15 sq mi). It is part of the wider Norsewood statistical area, which covers 397.35 km2 (153.42 sq mi).[1]

The population of Norsewood settlement was 135 in the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 (21.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 3 (-2.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 75 males and 57 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.32 males per female. Ethnicities were 117 people (86.7%) European/Pākehā, 36 (26.7%) Māori, 3 (2.2%) Pacific peoples, and 3 (2.2%) Asian (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Of the total population, 27 people (20.0%) were under 15 years old, 24 (17.8%) were 15–29, 63 (46.7%) were 30–64, and 21 (15.6%) were over 65.[2]

Norsewood statistical area[]

Norsewood statistical area has an estimated population of 1,680 as of June 2020,[10] with a population density of 4.23 people per km²

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,545—    
20131,548+0.03%
20181,611+0.80%
Source: [11]

Norsewood had a population of 1,611 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (4.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 66 people (4.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 615 households. There were 843 males and 768 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 44.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 342 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 243 (15.1%) aged 15 to 29, 768 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 261 (16.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.9% European/Pākehā, 19.9% Māori, 1.5% Pacific peoples, 0.9% Asian, and 0.7% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 7.8%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 51.6% had no religion, 35.8% were Christian, 0.2% were Buddhist and 3.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (11.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 315 (24.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 645 (50.8%) people were employed full-time, 228 (18.0%) were part-time, and 39 (3.1%) were unemployed.[11]

Economy[]

Good luck Trolls of Norsewood

In 2018, 14.1% of the workforce worked in manufacturing, 3.4% worked in construction, 0.0% worked in retail and wholesale, 2.4% worked in hospitality, 2.8% worked in transport, 6.6% worked in education, and 6.9% worked in healthcare.[11]

Crown Hotel is a local pub and meeting place.[4]

Transport[]

As of 2018, among those who commute to work, 63.1% drove a car, 1.4% rode in a car, 0.3% use a bike, and 0.3% walk or run. No one commuted by public transport.[11]

Education[]

Norsewood and Districts School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[12] with a roll of 57 as of March 2021.[13]

In popular culture[]

The town appears in the television series The Almighty Johnsons, where some of its descendants are the reincarnations of Norse gods.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Harper, Laura and Tony Mudd (2002). The Rough Guide to New Zealand. Rough Guides. Page 479. ISBN 9781858288963.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Forrester, Georgia (8 November 2017). "Welcome to Town: The Quaint Nature of Norsewood". stuff.co.nz. Manawatu Guardian.
  5. ^ "Kingdom of Denmark Bilateral Relations". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Norsewood Travel Guide". Jasons Travel Media.
  7. ^ Lund, Fredrik Larsen (2017). Norske utposter. Vega forlag. Pages 204 and 214. ISBN 978-82-8211-537-7.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Lund, Fredrik Larsen (2017). Norske utposter. Vega forlag. Pages 205 and 209. ISBN 978-82-8211-537-7.
  9. ^ McKay, Christine (20 May 2014). "Dannevirke: Norwegian heritage celebrated". stuff.co.nz. Hawke's Bay Today.
  10. ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Norsewood (232800). 2018 Census place summary: Norsewood
  12. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  13. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  14. ^ "Norsewood: Footsteps of the gods". Bay of Plenty Times. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.

External links[]

Coordinates: 40°04′S 176°13′E / 40.067°S 176.217°E / -40.067; 176.217

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