Prestonville
Suburb
Map
Coordinates: 46°23′06″S 168°20′53″E / 46.385°S 168.348°E / -46.385; 168.348
CountryNew Zealand
CityInvercargill
Local authorityInvercargill City Council
Area
[1]
 • Land57 ha (141 acres)
Population
 (2018 Census)[2]
 • Total27
Waikiwi Waihopai
Grasmere, New Zealand
Prestonville
 Thomsons Bush
Gladstone

Prestonville is a suburb and industrial area in the New Zealand city of Invercargill.

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

In 1984, Waihopai River burst its banks, inundating Prestonville "like a tidal wave".[4] It caused major flooding in Prestonville and other suburbs, leading to property damage, homelessness and job losses.[5] Flood banks were installed to prevent further floods.[3]

In the 1980s, a 24-hour aluminium processing plant was established in Prestonville to support the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter. Locals successfully campaigned to limit the site's operating hours to 6am to 10pm due to the loud noise it created. The factory closed in 1994.[6]

In 2018, Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigated a series of suspicious fires in Prestonville and other parts of the city.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200627—    
201339+5.39%
201827−7.09%
Source: [2]

Prestonville covers 0.57 km2 (0.22 sq mi)[1] and is part of the wider Prestonville-Grasmere statistical area.[8] It had a population of 27 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people (−30.8%) since the 2013 census, and unchanged since the 2006 census. There were 15 households. There were 12 males and 18 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.67 males per female. The median age was 45.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 3 people (11.1%) aged under 15 years, 6 (22.2%) aged 15 to 29, 12 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 9 (33.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.9% European/Pākehā, 22.2% Māori, 11.1% Pacific peoples, and 11.1% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 44.4% had no religion, and 44.4% were Christian.

The median income was $26,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 9 (37.5%) people were employed full-time, 3 (12.5%) were part-time, and 3 (12.5%) were unemployed.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029509 (7029509). 2018 Census place summary: 7029509
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ Fallow, Michael (30 March 2018). "Tiwai 2: Return of the dreaded dross". stuff.co.nz. Southland Times.
  7. ^ Bootsma, Ben (16 December 2018). "Fire fighters call for vigilance after a spate of suspicious fires". stuff.co.nz. Southland Times.
  8. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Prestonville-Grasmere
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