Bethlehem, New Zealand
Bethlehem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°42′S 176°07′E / 37.700°S 176.117°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| City | Tauranga |
| Local authority | Tauranga City Council |
| Electoral ward | Bethlehem General Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 1,386 ha (3,425 acres) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
| • Total | 9,270 |
| (Tauranga Harbour) | Bellevue | |
| Te Puna |
  Bethlehem  |
Judea |
| Tauriko | Gate Pa |
Bethlehem is a suburb of Tauranga in New Zealand's North Island. Originally a small independent town, it has now been absorbed by Tauranga and comprises a number of subdivisions including Bethlehem Heights, Sterling Gate, La Cumbre, Saint Andrews, and Mayfield.[3]
Demographics
[edit]Bethlehem covers 13.86 km2 (5.35 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 9,270 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 669 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 5,556 | — |
| 2013 | 7,050 | +3.46% |
| 2018 | 8,634 | +4.14% |
| Source: [4] | ||
Bethlehem had a population of 8,634 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,584 people (22.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3,078 people (55.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,228 households, comprising 4,044 males and 4,593 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.88 males per female, with 1,473 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 1,068 (12.4%) aged 15 to 29, 3,369 (39.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,724 (31.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 85.8% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 1.5% Pacific peoples, 8.3% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 24.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 40.2% had no religion, 49.0% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,569 (21.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,206 (16.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,392 people (19.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,694 (37.6%) people were employed full-time, 1,053 (14.7%) were part-time, and 177 (2.5%) were unemployed.[4]
| Name | Area (km2) |
Population | Density (per km2) |
Households | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem North | 5.12 | 3,429 | 670 | 1,326 | 58.1 years | $28,100[5] |
| Bethlehem Central | 4.27 | 4,119 | 965 | 1,551 | 48.4 years | $33,300[6] |
| Bethlehem South | 4.47 | 1,086 | 243 | 351 | 44.9 years | $41,800[7] |
| New Zealand | 37.4 years | $31,800 |
Marae
[edit]Bethlehem has two Ngāti Ranginui marae:
- Hangarau or Peterehema Marae and its Hangarau is affiliated with Ngāti Hangarau.
- Te Wairoa Marae and its Kahu Tapu meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Pango and Ngāti Rangi.[8][9]
Economy
[edit]Bethlehem Town Centre
[edit]Bethlehem Town Centre is a shopping area covering 20,000 m².[10] It has 1000 carparks and about 50 retailers, including Kmart, Countdown and Smiths City.[11]
Education
[edit]Bethlehem Campus
[edit]The local Bethlehem Campus includes several Christian educational institutions on a single site.
Bethlehem College is a co-educational state-integrated school for Year 1 to 13 students.[12][13] with a roll of 2023 as of August 2024.[14]
In January 2013 a van of Bethlehem College students and former students crashed in a small village in Kenya, while they were on a volunteer mission at Ark Quest Academy.[15] Student Caitlin Dickson was killed, as were married couple Brian and Grace Johnston. Kenyan bus driver Christopher Mmata was also killed.[16]
In 2022 Bethlehem College received considerable media attention when it was revealed that the school contract had a clause in it which made parents and their children agree that marriage is between a man and a woman.[17] Allegations of homophobic bullying within the school came to light following this, resulting in a petition for the Education Review Office and the Ministry of Education to investigate the school, launched by Shaneel Lal.[18][19]
Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, formerly the Bethlehem Institute of Education, is a tertiary institution offering Degrees and Diplomas in teaching, social work and counselling and a Master of Professional Practice. Over 400 students are enrolled and students may study either onsite with a 'flipped classroom' approach or through innovative distance learning. The academy was founded in 1988 as a primary school with 100 students, and has expanded since to offer secondary and tertiary education.[20][third-party source needed]
Notable former students include Kiri Allan (Member of Parliament), David Farrier (journalist and actor), Michael Ashton (makeup artist), Sam Tanner (1500m athlete) and Mika Vukona (professional basketball player).
Other schools
[edit]Bethlehem has three other schools.
Bethlehem School is a co-educational state primary school,[21] with a roll of 442.[22]
Tauranga Adventist School is a co-educational state-integrated Seventh-day Adventist primary school,[23][24] with a roll of 111.[25]
Te Wharekura o Mauao is a co-educational state secondary school,[26][27] with a roll of 273.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Place name detail: Bethlehem". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Bethlehem North (193000), Bethlehem Central (193500) and Bethlehem South (194200).
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Bethlehem North
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Bethlehem Central
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Bethlehem South
- ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
- ^ "Bethlehem's Kmart opening marks end of big project". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald. 18 March 2016.
- ^ "Store Directory - Bethlehem Town Centre". shopbethlehem.co.nz. Colliers International. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ "Bethlehem College Official School Website". beth.school.nz.
- ^ "Bethlehem College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Bethlehem College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Community shocked by Kenya crash deaths". 3 News NZ. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Kenya crash survivors recovering well". 3 News NZ. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Marriage is between man and woman: School under fire for 'discriminatory' statement". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ Quill, Annemarie (13 June 2022). "School launch investigation after alleged threats made to students supporting LGBTQIA+ community". Stuff. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "5600 sign petition for investigation into alleged 'abuse' at Bethlehem College". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Bethlehem Tertiary Institute". bti.ac.nz. Bethlehem Tertiary Institute.
- ^ "Bethlehem School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Bethlehem School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Tauranga Adventist School Official School Website". taurangasda.school.nz.
- ^ "Tauranga Adventist School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Tauranga Adventist School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Te Wharekura o Mauao Official School Website". mauao.school.nz.
- ^ "Te Wharekura o Mauao Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Te Wharekura o Mauao Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.