Hira, New Zealand

Hira
Town
St John the Evangelist Church at Hira
Coordinates: 41°13′S 173°24′E / 41.217°S 173.400°E / -41.217; 173.400
Country	New Zealand
Region	Nelson
Ward	Central General Ward Whakatū Māori Ward
Electorates	Nelson Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Nelson City Council
• Mayor of Nelson	Nick Smith
• Nelson MP	Rachel Boyack
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris

Hira is a small settlement approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Nelson, New Zealand. It sits in the valley of the Wakapuaka River.

Hira is in the Nelson Rural statistical area which covers 366.04 km² (141.33 sq mi),^[1] and also includes Todds Valley, Glenduan, Wakapuaka and Pepin Island. It had an estimated population of 2,100 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 5.7 people per km².

Nelson Rural had a population of 1,896 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 192 people (11.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 360 people (23.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 657 households, comprising 984 males and 912 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 46.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 339 people (17.9%) aged under 15 years, 237 (12.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,038 (54.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 282 (14.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.2% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 26.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 65.8% had no religion, 22.5% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 450 (28.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 192 (12.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 297 people (19.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 795 (51.1%) people were employed full-time, 324 (20.8%) were part-time, and 36 (2.3%) were unemployed.^[3]

Hira School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students.^[4][5] It has a roll of 61 as of August 2024.^[6] The school celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1997.^[7]