Hira, New Zealand

Hira is a small settlement approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Nelson, New Zealand. It sits in the valley of the Wakapuaka River.

Hira
Town
St John the Evangelist Church at Hira
Interactive map of Hira
Coordinates: 41°13′S 173°24′E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Nelson
Ward	Central General Ward Whakatū Māori Ward
Electorates	Nelson Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Nelson City Council
• Mayor of Nelson	Nick Smith
• Nelson MP	Rachel Boyack
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area
• Total	181.58 km2 (70.11 sq mi)
Population  (2023 census)
• Total	606
• Density	3.34/km2 (8.64/sq mi)

Demographics

Hira locality covers 181.58 km² (70.11 sq mi). It is part of the larger Nelson Rural statistical area.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	525	—
2013	531	+0.16%
2018	543	+0.45%
2023	606	+2.22%
Source:

Hira had a population of 606 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (11.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 75 people (14.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 312 males and 300 females in 213 dwellings. 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 111 people (18.3%) aged under 15 years, 69 (11.4%) aged 15 to 29, 327 (54.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 96 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.6% European (Pākehā); 10.9% Māori; 2.0% Pasifika; 4.5% 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 99.0%, Māori by 1.0%, and other languages by 8.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 26.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 20.8% Christian, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.8%, and 10.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 144 (29.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 261 (52.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 105 (21.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 60 people (12.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 255 (51.5%) full-time, 108 (21.8%) part-time, and 6 (1.2%) unemployed.

Nelson Rural statistical area

Nelson Rural statistical area covers 366.04 km² (141.33 sq mi), and also includes Todds Valley, Glenduan, Wakapuaka and Pepin Island. It had an estimated population of 2,000 as of June 2025, with a population density of 5.5 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,536	—
2013	1,704	+1.49%
2018	1,896	+2.16%
2023	1,992	+0.99%
Source:

Nelson Rural had a population of 1,992 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 96 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 288 people (16.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 990 males, 990 females, and 9 people of other genders in 732 dwellings. 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 333 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 225 (11.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,047 (52.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 390 (19.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.7% European (Pākehā); 9.3% Māori; 1.2% Pasifika; 2.9% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori by 1.4%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 11.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 27.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 20.8% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.9%, and 9.3% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 525 (31.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 843 (50.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 291 (17.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 201 people (12.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 780 (47.0%) full-time, 357 (21.5%) part-time, and 24 (1.4%) unemployed.

Education

Hira School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students. It has a roll of 42 as of March 2026. It opened in 1872 as Happy Valley School. The school celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1997.