Jerusalem, New Zealand

Jerusalem locality covers 221.36 km² (85.47 sq mi).^[4] It is part of the larger Upper Whanganui statistical area.^[13]

Jerusalem had a population of 186 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (17.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 27 people (17.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 87 males and 96 females in 60 dwellings.^[14] 1.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 54 people (29.0%) aged under 15 years, 33 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 69 (37.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (16.1%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 38.7% European (Pākehā), 82.3% Māori, 6.5% Pasifika, and 1.6% Asian. English was spoken by 95.2%, Māori by 21.0%, Samoan by 1.6%, and other languages by 1.6%. No language could be spoken by 3.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 1.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 35.5% Christian, and 4.8% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 45.2%, and 12.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (11.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 72 (54.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 48 (36.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $24,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (4.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 45 (34.1%) full-time, 15 (11.4%) part-time, and 12 (9.1%) unemployed.^[5]

From 1891, the Jerusalem settlement took in some abandoned children from around New Zealand, the majority of whom had unmarried or widowed parents and were sometimes anonymously sent to the convent. In 1896 the Jerusalem Foundling Home was formally established.^[9]

Children of school age went to the settlement school run by the Sisters of Compassion, which was also attended by children from the local marae. Unable to attain classification as an Industrial School (which would allow the Home to receive Government funding for the orphaned children), from 1891 to 1895 children were placed on the roll of Industrial Schools in Nelson and Upper Hutt but remained at the convent.

From 1885, the Jerusalem settlement began taking in newborn babies. This came at a time when there was widespread publicity about and condemnation of baby farming, in particular, the case of Minnie Dean. Against legislation and popular opinion at the time, Suzanne Aubert, as leader of the Jerusalem Foundling Home, believed firmly that the anonymity of parents was essential to ensuring the safety of both them and their children. The register of children kept at the Home did not publicly list the names of parents, although Aubert herself kept a private register with parental information in case parents wished to reconnect with their children later in life. However, this meant the Home was ineligible for state funding at the time, due to ignoring legislation which required registers to list the names of parents and submit these to Government inspection.

In 1898, an inquest took place into the death of seven babies at the Home, with doctors at the time concluding that the cause of death was either measles or unsterilised cows milk. During this inquest, the Home was criticised for its secrecy around Government inspection.^[9]

• Suzanne Aubert established a religious community at Jerusalem in 1892

• Earl Bamber (born 1990), racing driver, learned to drive at Jerusalem

• James K. Baxter, poet and playwright, established a community at Jerusalem in 1970 (without his wife, Jacquie Sturm) and was later buried there

• Wiremu Te Āwhitu (28 July 1914 – 29 July 1994), the first Māori to be ordained a Roman Catholic priest, lived at Jerusalem from 1968 till 1989