Bethlehem, New Zealand

Coordinates: 37°42′S 176°07′E / 37.700°S 176.117°E / -37.700; 176.117
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Bethlehem
Suburb
Map
Coordinates: 37°42′S 176°07′E / 37.700°S 176.117°E / -37.700; 176.117
CountryNew Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
CityTauranga
Local authorityTauranga City Council
Electoral wardBethlehem General Ward
Area
[1]
 • Land1,386 ha (3,425 acres)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total9,230
(Tauranga Harbour) Bellevue
Te Puna
Bethlehem
 Judea
Tauriko Gate Pa

Bethlehem is a suburb of Tauranga in New Zealand's North Island. Originally a small independent town, it has now been absorbed by Tauranga and comprises a number of subdivisions including Bethlehem Heights, Sterling Gate, La Cumbre, Saint Andrews, and Mayfield.[3]

It is situated on State Highway 2, and has amenities such as the Bethlehem Town Centre shopping centre.

Demographics[edit]

Bethlehem covers 13.86 km2 (5.35 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 9,230 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 666 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20065,556—    
20137,050+3.46%
20188,634+4.14%
Source: [4]

Bethlehem had a population of 8,634 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,584 people (22.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3,078 people (55.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,228 households, comprising 4,044 males and 4,593 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.88 males per female, with 1,473 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 1,068 (12.4%) aged 15 to 29, 3,369 (39.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,724 (31.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 85.8% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 1.5% Pacific peoples, 8.3% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 24.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 40.2% had no religion, 49.0% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,569 (21.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,206 (16.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,392 people (19.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,694 (37.6%) people were employed full-time, 1,053 (14.7%) were part-time, and 177 (2.5%) were unemployed.[4]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)		 Population Density
(per km2)		 Households Median age Median
income
Bethlehem North 5.12 3,429 670 1,326 58.1 years $28,100[5]
Bethlehem Central 4.27 4,119 965 1,551 48.4 years $33,300[6]
Bethlehem South 4.47 1,086 243 351 44.9 years $41,800[7]
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Marae[edit]

Bethlehem has two Ngāti Ranginui marae:

Economy[edit]

Bethlehem Town Centre[edit]

Bethlehem Town Centre is a shopping area covering 20,000 m².[10] It has 1000 carparks and about 50 retailers, including Kmart, Countdown and Smiths City.[11]

Education[edit]

Bethlehem Campus[edit]

The local Bethlehem Campus includes several Christian educational institutions on a single site.

Bethlehem College is a co-educational state-integrated school for Year 1 to 13 students.[12][13] with a roll of 2,005 as of February 2024.[14]

In January 2013 a van of Bethlehem College students and former students crashed in a small village in Kenya, while they were on a volunteer mission at Ark Quest Academy.[15] Student Caitlin Dickson was killed, as were married couple Brian and Grace Johnston. Kenyan bus driver Christopher Mmata was also killed.[16]

In 2022 Bethlehem College received considerable media attention when it was revealed that the school contract had a clause in it which made parents and their children agree that marriage is between a man and a woman.[17] Allegations of homophobic bullying within the school came to light following this, resulting in a petition for the Education Review Office and the Ministry of Education to investigate the school, launched by Shaneel Lal.[18][19]

Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, formerly the Bethlehem Institute of Education, is a tertiary institution offering Degrees and Diplomas in teaching, social work and counselling and a Master of Professional Practice. Over 400 students are enrolled and students may study either onsite with a 'flipped classroom' approach or through innovative distance learning. The academy was founded in 1988 as a primary school with 100 students, and has expanded since to offer secondary and tertiary education.[20][third-party source needed]

Notable former students include Kiri Allan (Member of Parliament), David Farrier (journalist and actor), Michael Ashton (makeup artist), Sam Tanner (1500m athlete) and Mika Vukona (professional basketball player).

Other schools[edit]

Bethlehem has three other schools.

Bethlehem School is a co-educational state primary school,[21] with a roll of 374.[22]

Tauranga Adventist School is a co-educational state-integrated Seventh-day Adventist primary school,[23][24] with a roll of 116.[25]

Te Wharekura o Mauao is a co-educational state secondary school,[26][27] with a roll of 269.[28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Place name detail: Bethlehem". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board.
  4. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Bethlehem North (193000), Bethlehem Central (193500) and Bethlehem South (194200).
  5. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Bethlehem North
  6. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Bethlehem Central
  7. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Bethlehem South
  8. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  9. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  10. ^ "Bethlehem's Kmart opening marks end of big project". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald. 18 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Store Directory - Bethlehem Town Centre". shopbethlehem.co.nz. Colliers International. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Bethlehem College Official School Website". beth.school.nz.
  13. ^ "Bethlehem College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  14. ^ "Bethlehem College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  15. ^ "Community shocked by Kenya crash deaths". 3 News NZ. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Kenya crash survivors recovering well". 3 News NZ. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  17. ^ "Marriage is between man and woman: School under fire for 'discriminatory' statement". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  18. ^ Quill, Annemarie (13 June 2022). "School launch investigation after alleged threats made to students supporting LGBTQIA+ community". Stuff. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  19. ^ "5600 sign petition for investigation into alleged 'abuse' at Bethlehem College". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Bethlehem Tertiary Institute". bti.ac.nz. Bethlehem Tertiary Institute.
  21. ^ "Bethlehem School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  22. ^ "Bethlehem School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  23. ^ "Tauranga Adventist School Official School Website". taurangasda.school.nz.
  24. ^ "Tauranga Adventist School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  25. ^ "Tauranga Adventist School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  26. ^ "Te Wharekura o Mauao Official School Website". mauao.school.nz.
  27. ^ "Te Wharekura o Mauao Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  28. ^ "Te Wharekura o Mauao Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

External links[edit]

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