Norsewood

Norsewood is a small rural settlement in the Tararua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. The town is situated east of the Ruahine Mountain range and is located 20 kilometres northeast of Dannevirke.

Norsewood
Stave church replica on Coronation Street.
Coordinates: 40°04′S 176°13′E
Country New Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
Territorial authorityTararua District
Government
 • Tararua MayorTracey Collins
 • Wairarapa MPKieran McAnulty
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPMeka Whaitiri
Area
 • Total397.44 km2 (153.45 sq mi)
 • Land397.44 km2 (153.45 sq mi)
 • Water0 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2020)
 • Total1,680[1]
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
4974

Geography

The Norsewood area, as defined by Statistics New Zealand, covers 397.44 km², including the township and the surrounding rural hinterland.[2]

The source of the Manawatu River is located behind the settlement, at the end of Manawatu River Road, forming the natural boundary for the region and Hawke's Bay to the north.

The village consists of two parts. Upper Norsewood features the town's main road, Coronation Street, a gift shop, a visitor's centre and a Pioneer Museum housed in an 1888 building. Lower Norsewood, located 1 km to the south, features Hovding Street and Norsewear, a company which provides woolen garments in Norwegian designs.[3]

Upper and Lower Norsewood lie on either side of State Highway 2.[4]

History

Early settlement

Norsewood was founded by mainly Norwegian settlers in 1872 as a loggers settlement, and retains a Scandinavian tenor.[5] The village was carved out of the forest, and was subsequently destroyed in a fire in 1888.[6][7]

The government of New Zealand requested Norwegian immigrants and made an agreement with Winge & Co. in Christiania, which would allow for 3,000 emigrants to New Zealand. In the years 1870–76, nearly 1,000 Norwegians moved to the Norsewood area.[8]

Modern township

The settlement continues celebrate its Scandinavian culture. A Scandinavian festival is held every year.[9] Traditional celebrations of Norway's Constitution Day is held on the Sunday closest to May 17.[10]

The main square by Coronation Street welcomes visitors to “Little Norway”, and a Norwegian flag flies from the street's tourist office.[9] The Bindalsfaering, a fishing boat gifted by the Norwegian Government, is displayed in a glassed boat-house in Upper Norsewood, near a replica of a Norwegian stave church.[4]

The population of Norsewood was 1,700 in 1996. It fell to 1,560 in 2001, 1,580 in 2006 and 670 in 2013, before increasing to 710 in 2018.[11]

Demography

Norsewood has an estimated population of 1,680, with a population density of 4.23 people per km² as of 2019.[12]

As of the 2018 census, the median age was 53.2, the median income was $30,700, 5.0% of people earned over $100,00, 12.3% had a Bachelor's Degree or higher, and 3.1% of the workforce was unemployed.[11]

Ethnically, the population was 90.9% New Zealand European, 19.9% Māori and 1.5% Pacific peoples; 7.8% of people were born overseas.[11]

Religiously, the population was 51.6% non-religious and 35.8% Christian.[11]

Economy

In 2018, 14.1% of the workforce worked in manufacturing, 3.4% worked in construction, 0.0% worked in retail and wholesale, 2.4% worked in hospitality, 2.8% worked in transport, 6.6% worked in education, and 6.9% worked in healthcare.[11]

Crown Hotel is a local pub and meeting place.[4]

Transport

As of 2018, among those who commute to work, 63.1% drove a car, 1.4% rode in a car, 0.3% use a bike, and 0.3% walk or run. No one commuted by public transport.[11]

Education

Norsewood and Districts School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[13] with a roll of 51 as of March 2020.[14]

The town appears in the television series The Almighty Johnsons, where some of its descendants are the reincarnations of Norse gods.[15]

References
  1. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. "Statistical Area 2 2018 (generalised) GIS" (Data table). stats.govt.nz. Statistics New Zealand.
  3. Harper, Laura and Tony Mudd (2002). The Rough Guide to New Zealand. Rough Guides. Page 479. ISBN 9781858288963.
  4. Forrester, Georgia (8 November 2017). "Welcome to Town: The Quaint Nature of Norsewood". stuff.co.nz. Manawatu Guardian.
  5. "Kingdom of Denmark Bilateral Relations". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  6. "Norsewood Travel Guide". Jasons Travel Media.
  7. Harper, Laura and Tony Mudd (2002). The Rough Guide to New Zealand. Rough Guides. Page 479. ISBN 9781858288963.
  8. Lund, Fredrik Larsen (2017). Norske utposter. Vega forlag. Pages 204 and 214. ISBN 978-82-8211-537-7.
  9. Lund, Fredrik Larsen (2017). Norske utposter. Vega forlag. Pages 205 and 209. ISBN 978-82-8211-537-7.
  10. McKay, Christine (20 May 2014). "Dannevirke: Norwegian heritage celebrated". stuff.co.nz. Hawke's Bay Today.
  11. norsewood "Place Summary - Norsewood" Check |url= value (help). Stats NZ. Statistics New Zealand.
  12. "Provisional Statistics". stats.govt.nz. Statistics New Zealand.
  13. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  14. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  15. "Norsewood: Footsteps of the gods". Bay of Plenty Times. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.

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