The Rangitikei District Council is the local government authority for this district. It is composed of a mayor, currently Andy Watson, and 11 councillors, one of whom is the deputy mayor.
The current Mayor of Rangitikei is Andy Watson, elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2016, 2019, and 2022. [5] Watson was first elected in 2013 by obtaining 1,983 votes (41.5%) of the vote and a majority of 486 (10.2%) beating incumbent mayor Chalky Leary.[6]
Rangitikei District Council is served by eleven councillors elected across five wards. Five councillors are elected from the Central ward, two from the Northern ward, two from the Southern ward, with one councillor from the Tiikeitia ki Uta Inland and Coastal Māori Wards.[7]
Regional government
Rangitikei District is one of nine districts located partially or entirely within the Manawatū-Whanganui region. As such, it is represented on the Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council, known as Horizons Regional Council. Two of the twelve regional councillors are elected by the district in the Manawatu - Rangitikei ward; the two regional councillors elected in the 2022 elections are Bruce Gordon and Gordon McKellar.[8]
Rangitikei's climate is temperate and has few extremes compared to many parts of New Zealand. According to the Köppen climate classification, this climate is classified as oceanic climate (Cfb). Summers are warm, with average temperatures in the low 20s. The most settled weather occurs in summer and early autumn. Winters are mild near the coast and on the plains; it is colder inland and in the hill country, but often frosty, clear and calm. Snowfall occasionally settles in areas 400 m above sea level, such as Taihape. Annual rainfall is moderate, and annual hours of bright sunshine can average over 2,000.[13]
Rangitikei District covers 4,483.88 km2 (1,731.24 sq mi)[2] and had an estimated population of 16,650 as of June 2024,[3] with a population density of 3.7 people per km2.
Rangitikei District had a population of 15,663 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 636 people (4.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,644 people (11.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 7,863 males, 7,758 females and 39 people of other genders in 6,159 dwellings.[21] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3,033 people (19.4%) aged under 15 years, 2,655 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 6,816 (43.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 3,159 (20.2%) aged 65 or older.[20]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.6% European (Pākehā); 28.2% Māori; 5.5% Pasifika; 2.9% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori language by 6.4%, Samoan by 2.3% and other languages by 4.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,305 (10.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 7,431 (58.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 3,516 (27.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 801 people (6.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 6,330 (50.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,755 (13.9%) were part-time, and 342 (2.7%) were unemployed.[20]
InterCity runs five daily and three non-daily bus services in Marton and Bulls. These include Whanganui–Wellington, Palmerston North–Auckland, Tauranga–Wellington, Wellington–New Plymouth and Auckland–Palmerston North.[25]
Marton used to be serviced by the North Island Main Trunk (or Overlander), a railway line connecting Auckland and Wellington. However, in 2012 the Overlander was replaced by the Northern Explorer, which has fewer stops and does not stop in Marton.
The nearest airports to the district are Whanganui Airport, located 37 km west (of Marton), and Palmerston North Airport, located 44 km southeast. Both airports are domestic only.
NR - consists of former Taihape Ward and partially northern part of former Hunterville Ward since 2019; CR - consisted of former Marton Ward, most of southern part of Hunterville Ward and partially northern part of Turakina Ward since 2019; SR - consisted of Bulls Ward and most of southern part of Turakina Ward since 2019