Timaru Central

Timaru Central covers 0.81 km² (0.31 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 310 as of June 2025,^[2] with a population density of 383 people per km².

Before the 2023 census, Timaru Central had a larger boundary, covering 0.82 km² (0.32 sq mi).^[1] Using that boundary, Timaru Central had a population of 405 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 21 people (−4.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 15 people (−3.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 171 households, comprising 210 males and 195 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 37.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 45 people (11.1%) aged under 15 years, 114 (28.1%) aged 15 to 29, 198 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (11.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 77.0% European/Pākehā, 13.3% Māori, 8.1% Pasifika, 10.4% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 20.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 45.9% had no religion, 37.8% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.7% were Muslim, 2.2% were Buddhist and 4.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (8.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 93 (25.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 24 people (6.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 198 (55.0%) people were employed full-time, 39 (10.8%) were part-time, and 18 (5.0%) were unemployed.^[3]

Sacred Heart School is a Catholic state-integrated primary school for years 1 to 10^[4] with a roll of 236 as of October 2025.^[5] It opened in 1882 as Marist Brothers School, and became Sacred Heart School in the 1980s after a merger with Sacred Heart Girls' School (established 1879).^[6][7]