Levels, New Zealand

Levels is a small rural community in the Timaru District, New Zealand. It is located east of Pleasant Point and north-west of Timaru. Richard Pearse Airport is located within Levels. Also, the Timaru International Motor Raceway is located in the area.

Levels
Rural Area
Coordinates: 44.29873°S 171.22250°E / -44.29873; 171.22250
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Timaru District
Ward	Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward Timaru Ward
Community	Pleasant Point
Electorates	Rangitata Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Timaru District Council
• Regional council	Environment Canterbury
• Mayor of Timaru	Nigel Bowen
• Rangitata MP	James Meager
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	87.99 km2 (33.97 sq mi)
Elevation	25 m (82 ft)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	1,320
• Density	15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode	7975
Area code	03
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Demographics

The Levels statistical area, which also includes Waipopo, covers 87.99 km² (33.97 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,320 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 15 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,128	—
2013	1,134	+0.08%
2018	1,209	+1.29%
Source: [3]

Levels had a population of 1,209 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 75 people (6.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 81 people (7.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 462 households, comprising 654 males and 558 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 46.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 219 people (18.1%) aged under 15 years, 171 (14.1%) aged 15 to 29, 618 (51.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 198 (16.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.8% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 1.7% Asian, and 3.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 43.7% had no religion, 44.9% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 108 (10.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 240 (24.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 177 people (17.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 552 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 189 (19.1%) were part-time, and 18 (1.8%) were unemployed.^[3]

See also

• Levels Valley