Lichfield, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lichfield | |
|---|---|
 Fonterra Tokoroa, just south of Lichfield | |
 Interactive map of Lichfield | |
| Coordinates: 38°06′18″S 175°49′05″E / 38.105°S 175.818°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato |
| Territorial authority | South Waikato District |
| Ward | Putāruru Ward |
| Electorate | Taupō (general) Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori) |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | South Waikato District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of South Waikato | Gary Petley[1] |
| • Taupō MP | Louise Upston[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 119.17 km2 (46.01 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 237 m (778 ft) |
| Population (2023 census)[5] | |
• Total | 453 |
| • Density | 3.80/km2 (9.85/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 3482 |
| Area code | 07 |
Lichfield is a rural settlement in the South Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.[6]
The community is centred around the Lichfield Fonterra facility, which opened in 1995.[7] The factory features the largest cheese factory in the southern hemisphere,[8] consisting of separate dry salt and brine salt plants.[9] It also features the largest milk dryer in the world,[10] installed during a major expansion in 2016.[11] The dryer can process 30 metric tonnes of milk every hour, and store 40,000 metric tonnes of whole milk powder.[7] The dryer is used during the peak season, with production varying based on prices.[12] The Fonterra site employs 330 people, with extra staff being stationed there during installations.[10] Almost 90% of the output travels by rail from a covered siding at the factory.[13]
The local Lichfields Lands farm converted from sheep to dairy and beef farming in the 1960s.[14] It is now an Open Brethren operation,[15] donating its proceeds to charity.[16]
South African-born artist Sonnett Olls opened an art gallery in Lichfield in 2019.[17]
A Red Cross health shuttle transports Lichfield residents to health appointments in Tīrau.[18]
In 1884 Lichfield was planned as a city of 8,000 people, on over 700 lots, at the centre of 80,000 ha (200,000 acres), purchased from Ngāti Raukawa by the Patetere Land Association.[19] In 1882, at a time when the Rotorua railway was planned to pass through Lichfield,[20] they formed a company in London to encourage settlers[21] and construction of the 67.28 km (41.81 mi) railway link from Morrinsville began the same year.[22] The attempt failed.[23] Another was made to sell lots for a town in 1905.[24]
Demographics
Lichfield locality covers 119.17 km2 (46.01 sq mi)[4] It is part of the larger Putāruru Rural statistical area.[25]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 513 | — |
| 2013 | 426 | −2.62% |
| 2018 | 468 | +1.90% |
| 2023 | 453 | −0.65% |
| Source: [5][26] | ||
Lichfield had a population of 453 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−3.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 27 people (6.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 219 males, 231 females, and 3 people of other genders in 177 dwellings.[27] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 93 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 84 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 207 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 69 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.4% European (Pākehā), 22.5% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.4%, Māori by 5.3%, and other languages by 5.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 9.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 28.5% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.6%, and 10.6% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 51 (14.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 240 (66.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 69 (19.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 36 people (10.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 228 (63.3%) full-time, 42 (11.7%) part-time, and 3 (0.8%) unemployed.[5]
