Grasmere, New Zealand

Grasmere is a suburb in the New Zealand city of Invercargill.

Grasmere
Suburb
Coordinates: 46.383°S 168.338°E / -46.383; 168.338
CountryNew Zealand
CityInvercargill
Local authorityInvercargill City Council
Area
[1]
 • Land320 ha (790 acres)
Population
 (June 2022)[2]
 • Total3,880
West Plains Waikiwi
Grasmere
 Prestonville
Invercargill Airport Avenal Gladstone

The area is low-lying and at risk from flooding and sea level rise.[3]

In 1984, Waihopai River burst its banks, causing flooding Grasmere and other suburbs.[4] Homes and properties were damaged, and some people became homeless or lost their jobs.[5] Flood banks were installed to prevent further floods.[3]

Between 2017 and 2018, Grasmere was the only suburb in Invercargill where the median house price declined.[6]

Demographics

Prestonville-Grasmere statistical area covers 3.20 km2 (1.24 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,880 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 1,213 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20063,453—    
20133,513+0.25%
20183,720+1.15%
Source: [7]

Prestonville-Grasmere had a population of 3,720 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 207 people (5.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 267 people (7.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,413 households. There were 1,791 males and 1,929 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female. The median age was 36.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 792 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 690 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,530 (41.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 711 (19.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.2% European/Pākehā, 15.2% Māori, 2.1% Pacific peoples, 3.7% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 8.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.4% had no religion, 33.5% were Christian, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 330 (11.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 855 (29.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 336 people (11.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,512 (51.6%) people were employed full-time, 408 (13.9%) were part-time, and 96 (3.3%) were unemployed.[7]

Education

Donovan Primary School is a state contributing primary school for years 1 to 6[8] with a roll of 382 as of April 2023.[9] The school was established in 2005 through the merger of Grasmere Primary School, Waikiwi School and West Plains School, on the site of the former Collingwood Intermediate School.[10]

Grasmere School, a co-educational state primary school, operated from c. 1928 to 2005.[11][12] and closed in 2009.[13] The school site was sold to private owners in 2007, Invercargill City Council gave planning approval for the site to be subdivided in 2008, and the site was auctioned off in two parts in 2009.[14]

Collingwood Intermediate School, a year 7 and 8 state intermediate school, operated in Grasmere between 1976 and 2004.[15] It opened with 120 Form 1 students.[16] The school was affected by a major flood in 1984, which also reduced its roll.[16]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. Mack, Ben (10 November 2015). "Rising seas threaten Southland, experts say". stuff.co.nz. Southland Times.
  4. Rudd, Allison (18 January 2014). "Invercargill flood caught out residents". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  5. "Some people 'never' recovered". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times. 26 January 2009.
  6. Moore, Rebecca (27 June 2018). "House values track upwards in Invercargill". stuff.co.nz. Southland Times.
  7. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Prestonville-Grasmere (360600). 2018 Census place summary: Prestonville-Grasmere
  8. Education Counts: Donovan Primary Schooll
  9. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  10. New Entrant blurb (PDF). Invercargill: Donovan Primary. 2012.
  11. "Grasmere School". Invercargill Archives. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  12. Mallard, Trevor (10 June 2004). "Merger of Grasmere School (3958), Waikiwi School (4039) and West Plains School (4051)". New Zealand Gazette.
  13. "Grasmere school goes to auction". stuff.co.nz. Southland Times. 18 February 2009.
  14. Mack, Ben (28 March 2016). "Some Southland schools reborn, while others decay". stuff.co.nz. Southland Times.
  15. Mallard, Trevor (29 May 2004). "Final decisions for Invercargill review". New Zealand Government.
  16. Esler, Lloyd (22 June 2017). "Tweedsmuir first intermediate school in Southland". Southland Times.
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