Forest and locality in Canterbury, New Zealand
Locality in Canterbury, New Zealand
Ashley Forest is a forest and a statistical area in the Canterbury Region's Hurunui District on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located north of the Ashley River / Rakahuri and northeast of the Okuku River.[3]
The forest was planted from 1939.[4] It is managed by Rayonier Matariki and is only accessible by the public with a permit.[5]
Ashley Forest Village is a small settlement at the southern end of the forest.
Demographics
The Ashley Forest statistical area covers 340.57 km2 (131.49 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 790 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 2.3 people per km2.
Historical population| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|
| 2006 | 522 | — |
|---|
| 2013 | 642 | +3.00% |
|---|
| 2018 | 669 | +0.83% |
|---|
| Source: [6] |
Ashley Forest had a population of 669 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 147 people (28.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 234 households, comprising 348 males and 324 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 44.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 138 people (20.6%) aged under 15 years, 105 (15.7%) aged 15 to 29, 327 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 97.3% European/Pākehā, 7.6% Māori, 0.4% Pasifika, 1.3% Asian, and 0.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 13.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.6% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 114 (21.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 75 (14.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 105 people (19.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 297 (55.9%) people were employed full-time, 96 (18.1%) were part-time, and 21 (4.0%) were unemployed.[6]
