Place:Dalefield
Dalefield is a rural community in the Carterton District and Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island.
It was the location of the Dalefield railway station on the Wairarapa Line between 1880 and 1981.
KiwiRail has identified the Watersons Line crossing in Dalefield as one of the most dangerous railway crossings in Wairarapa.[1]
In May 2018, plans were drawn up to develop a solar plant on a former landfill site in Dalefield but a resource consent was never issued, and is not active with Carterton District Council as of April 2026.[2]
Dalefield also has a lavender farm.[3]
Dalefield also has a artisan cidery.[4]
Parts of the area were affected by severe weather during November and December 2018, which caused widespread flooding but prevented a drought.[5][6]
Flooding of the Dalefield alluvial plain is a regular occurrence in heavy rains with the Magaterere River bursting its banks and the culvert on Dalefield Road over the tributary Taipaitangata stream blocking with tree slash, latest in April 2026 .[7]
Demographics
Dalefield locality covers 19.77 km2 (7.63 sq mi).[8] It is part of the larger Mount Holdsworth statistical area.[9]
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 171 | — |
| 2013 | 180 | +0.74% |
| 2018 | 171 | −1.02% |
| 2023 | 171 | +0.00% |
| Source: [10][11] | ||
Dalefield had a population of 171 in the 2023 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 9 people (−5.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 87 males and 87 females in 75 dwellings.[12] The median age was 54.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 21 people (12.3%) aged under 15 years, 18 (10.5%) aged 15 to 29, 90 (52.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (24.6%) aged 65 or older.[10]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 98.2% European (Pākehā), and 8.8% Māori. English was spoken by 100.0%, and other languages by 3.5%. No language could be spoken by 3.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[10]
Religious affiliations were 31.6% Christian, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.9%, and 7.0% of people did not answer the census question.[10]
Of those at least 15 years old, 27 (18.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 96 (64.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 30 (20.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 24 people (16.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 81 (54.0%) full-time, 27 (18.0%) part-time, and 3 (2.0%) unemployed.[10]
Education
Dalefield School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[13][14] with a roll of 79 as of July 2022.[15] It opened in 1885.[16][17]
The school established a low-power radio station in 2019.[18]
References
- ↑ Brown, Emma (18 August 2019). "Car-train near misses in Wairarapa rise in 2019". Wairarapa Times-Age. https://times-age.co.nz/car-train-near-misses-in-wairarapa-rise-in-2019/.
- ↑ Fuller, Piers (21 May 2018). "New Zealand's first solar co-operative about to go to market". stuff.co.nz. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/103940385/new-zealands-first-solar-cooperative-about-to-go-to-market.
- ↑ Ireland, Emily (6 September 2018). "The lavender smell of success". Wairarapa Times-Age. https://times-age.co.nz/the-lavender-smell-of-success/.
- ↑ "TeePee Cider" (in en). https://teepeecider.co.nz/.
- ↑ Vorster, Elisa (28 December 2018). "Rainfall welcomed by farmers". Wairarapa Times-Age. https://times-age.co.nz/rainfall-welcomed-by-farmers/.
- ↑ Fuller, Piers (26 November 2018). "Flooding forces Wairarapa school to close as rising river shuts SH53 bridge". Dominion Post. stuff.co.nz. https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/108876415/flooding-forces-wairarapa-school-to-close-as-rising-river-shuts-sh53-bridge.
- ↑ "Remutaka Hill road cut off after roads and properties flood" (in en-nz). 2026-04-21. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/emergency/592978/remutaka-hill-road-cut-off-after-roads-and-properties-flood.
- ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/.
- ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023. https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 [0=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7022352.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7022352. https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7022352.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7022352. https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/statistical-area-1-dataset-for-2018-census-updated-march-2020.
- ↑ [0=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7022352.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7022352.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003.
- ↑ "Dalefield School Official School Website". https://www.dalefield.school.nz.
- ↑ "Dalefield School Ministry of Education School Profile". Ministry of Education. https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2831.
- ↑ "Dalefield School Education Review Office Report". Education Review Office. https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/2831/dalefield-school.
- ↑ "Principal back in the hood". Wairarapa Times-Age. 24 October 2015. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/principal-back-in-the-hood/N5TMHEFCLVTN64AEISYB7LNWP4/.
- ↑ McCarthy, Kevin (1985). "Dalefield School : the first century, 1885-1985". Roydhouse Publishing. https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21877353.
- ↑ Scannell, Mazz (17 June 2019). "Radio waves humming at Dalefield School". Wairarapa Times-Age. https://times-age.co.nz/radio-waves-humming-at-dalefield-school/.
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