Portland is a locality on the western side of Whangārei Harbour in Northland, New Zealand. Whangārei is about 10 km to the north. Tikorangi is a hill to the west with a summit 161 m above sea level.[3][4]

Portland
Map
Coordinates: 35°48′06″S 174°19′45″E / 35.80167°S 174.32917°E / -35.80167; 174.32917
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictWhangarei District
WardBream Bay Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWhangarei District Council
 • Regional councilNorthland Regional Council
 • Mayor of WhangāreiVince Cocurullo
 • Whangārei MPShane Reti
 • Te Tai Tokerau MPMariameno Kapa-Kingi
Area
 • Total
12.12 km2 (4.68 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[2]
 • Total
483
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
A train stopped on the North Auckland Line in 1923

The major industry is Portland Cement, which is New Zealand's largest cement manufacturer.[5] It has a specialised loading dock on the harbour,[6] and quarries Tikorangi for lime.[7]

History

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The Portland Cement Works, which started on Limestone Island in Whangārei Harbour in 1885, moved to Portland in 1916.[8][9] The Cement works is now owned by Golden Bay Cement, a division of Fletcher Building.

Dominion Cement built a mile-long pier of disused tram rails in 1913.[10]

The town had a railway station on the North Auckland Line from 1918 to 1975.[11]

Demographics

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Portland is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 12.12 km2 (4.68 sq mi).[1] The SA1 areas are part of the larger Otaika-Portland statistical area.[1]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006399—    
2013333−2.55%
2018441+5.78%
2023483+1.84%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 11.96 km2
Source: [12][2]

Portland had a population of 483 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (9.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 150 people (45.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 246 males and 237 females in 141 dwellings.[13] 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 99 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 102 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 216 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (12.4%) aged 65 or older.[2]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.7% European (Pākehā), 42.9% Māori, 5.6% Pasifika, 0.6% Asian, and 1.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.7%, Māori language by 7.5%, and other languages by 3.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 9.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 27.3% Christian, 3.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% New Age, 0.6% Jewish, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.7%, and 4.3% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (10.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 225 (58.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 99 (25.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 30 people (7.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 183 (47.7%) people were employed full-time, 57 (14.8%) were part-time, and 15 (3.9%) were unemployed.[2]

Education

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Portland School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 106 students as of August 2024.[14][15]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7000860 and 7000865. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  3. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 7. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  4. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 27. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  5. ^ "Northland – Industries". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  6. ^ "Northland – Transport links". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  7. ^ Pickmere, Nancy Preece (1986). Whangarei: The Founding Years. p. 65.
  8. ^ "Whangarei Harbour". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  9. ^ "Brief History of the Cement Industry in New Zealand". Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008. This source gives a date of 1918 for the move to Portland.
  10. ^ "MANAWATU TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 August 1913. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. ^ Juliet Scoble: Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand
  12. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7000860 and 7000865.
  13. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  15. ^ Education Counts: Portland School