Spring Creek | |
|---|---|
 Spring Creek State Highway 1 Crossing | |
 | |
| Coordinates:41°27′38″S173°57′46″E / 41.46056°S 173.96278°E /-41.46056; 173.96278 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Marlborough |
| Ward |
|
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Marlborough District Council |
| • Marlborough District Mayor | Nadine Taylor[1] |
| • Kaikōura MP | Stuart Smith |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.30 km2 (1.27 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[3] | |
• Total | 540 |
| • Density | 160/km2 (420/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 7202 |
Spring Creek is a small town inMarlborough, New Zealand.State Highway 1 runs past the settlement to the west, and theWairau River flows past to the east.Picton is 22 km to the north, andBlenheim is 6 km to the south.[4][5]
The first European settlers were George Dodson, William Soper, and Dr Vickerman, in 1850.[6] There was a major flood in 1926, when the Wairau River burst its embankments.[7]
Wairau Marae is located in Spring Creek. It is themarae (meeting ground) ofNgāti Rārua andNgāti Toa Rangatira, and includes the Wairauwharenui (meeting house).[8][9]
Spring Creek has a railwayclassification yard on theMain North Line.[10]
Spring Creek is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 3.30 km2 (1.27 sq mi)[2] and had an estimated population of 540 as of June 2025,[3] with a population density of 164 people per km2. It is part of the larger Spring Creek-Grovetown statistical area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 573 | — |
| 2013 | 543 | −0.77% |
| 2018 | 576 | +1.19% |
| Source:[11] | ||
Spring Creek had a population of 576 at the2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (6.1%) since the2013 census, and an increase of 3 people (0.5%) since the2006 census. There were 204 households, comprising 315 males and 258 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.22 males per female, with 108 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 84 (14.6%) aged 15 to 29, 300 (52.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 93 (16.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 87.5% European/Pākehā, 19.8%Māori, 0.5%Pasifika, 3.1%Asian, and 3.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 61.5% had no religion, 27.6% wereChristian, 2.1% hadMāori religious beliefs, 0.5% wereHindu, and 1.0% wereBuddhist.
Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (9.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 150 (32.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 60 people (12.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 267 (57.1%) people were employed full-time, 81 (17.3%) were part-time, and 9 (1.9%) were unemployed.[11]
Spring Creek-Grovetown statistical area also includesGrovetown. It covers 9.69 km2 (3.74 sq mi).[2] It had an estimated population of 1,070 as of June 2025,[12] with a population density of 110 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 990 | — |
| 2013 | 972 | −0.26% |
| 2018 | 1,071 | +1.96% |
| Source:[13] | ||
Spring Creek-Grovetown had a population of 1,071 at the2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 99 people (10.2%) since the2013 census, and an increase of 81 people (8.2%) since the2006 census. There were 381 households, comprising 576 males and 492 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 44.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 198 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 144 (13.4%) aged 15 to 29, 552 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 177 (16.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 89.6% European/Pākehā, 16.5%Māori, 0.6%Pasifika, 3.1%Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.9% had no religion, 29.4% wereChristian, 1.1% hadMāori religious beliefs, 0.3% wereHindu, 0.8% wereBuddhist and 2.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (12.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 237 (27.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 129 people (14.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 492 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 141 (16.2%) were part-time, and 21 (2.4%) were unemployed.[13]
Spring Creek School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 52 students (as of July 2025).[14][15] A school was first founded in Spring Creek in 1861 or 1863.[16] The present school was founded in 1873.[17][18]
Published ... on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the School, April 17th, 18th, and 19th, 1954