Southland District is a New Zealand territorial authority district that covers most of the southern end of the South Island as well as Stewart Island.

Quick Facts Country, Region ...

Southland District
Territorial authority district
Lake Te Anau
Location of the Southland District within the South Island
Coordinates: 45°38′00″S 167°55′01″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Southland Region
Communities	Ardlussa Fiordland Northern Oraka Aparima Oreti Stewart Island/Rakiura Tuatapere Te Waewae Waihopai Toetoe Wallace Takitimu
Wards	Mararoa Waimea Stewart Island Rakiura Waiau Aparima Waihopai Toetoes Winton Wallacetown
Formed	1989
Seat	Invercargill
Government
• Mayor	Rob Scott
• Territorial authority	Southland District Council
Area [1]
• Land	29,575.19 km2 (11,419.04 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Total	33,000
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	Map of postcodes
Website	www.southlanddc.govt.nz

Close

Southland District was formed through the 1989 local government reforms.^[3] Four local authorities were amalgamated at that time: Wallace County, Winton Borough, Stewart Island County and most of Southland County. John Casey, who was first elected onto Southland County Council in 1977, oversaw the amalgamation and was elected Southland District's first mayor in 1989.^[4]

Winton Wallacetown Ward was renamed Oreti Ward with effect from the Council election on 12 October 2019.^[5] The Oreti River flows through this ward.

Southland District covers the majority of the land area of Southland Region, although the region also covers Gore District, Invercargill City and adjacent territorial waters. It has a land area of 29,574.53 square kilometres (11,419 sq mi), excluding inland waters such as Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri, and Lake Hauroko.

Southland District contains the islands south of Foveaux Strait:

• Solander Islands
• Stewart Island/Rakiura
• Ruapuke Island

The seat of the district council is Invercargill, which, however, is not part of Southland District, but a territorial authority in its own right.

Two of New Zealand's largest national parks are within the boundaries of Southland District: Fiordland National Park, and Rakiura National Park (which covers most of Stewart Island/Rakiura).

Southland District covers 29,575.19 km² (11,419.04 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 33,000 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 1.1 people per km².

Southland District had a population of 30,864 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,251 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,427 people (8.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 11,982 households, comprising 16,029 males and 14,835 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 39.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6,534 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 5,262 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 14,436 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 4,635 (15.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.1% European/Pākehā, 11.1% Māori, 1.1% Pasifika, 6.2% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.7% had no religion, 38.4% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,363 (13.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 5,739 (23.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3,732 people (15.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 13,956 (57.4%) people were employed full-time, 4,053 (16.7%) were part-time, and 519 (2.1%) were unemployed.^[6]

• List of historic places in Southland District