Wakefield | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Edward St, the main street of Wakefield | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 41°24′S 173°03′E / 41.400°S 173.050°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Territorial authority | Tasman |
| Ward | Moutere-Waimea Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Tasman District Council |
| • Mayor of Tasman | Tim King |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.92 km2 (3.83 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 2,680 |
| • Density | 270/km2 (700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Area code | 03 |
Wakefield (Māori: Tiraweke[3] or Wekipira)[4] is a settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's South Island, located about 25km south west of Nelson.
The settlement began in 1843 as Pitfure, but the name was changed to Wakefield a short time later. It may have been named after the birthplace of one of its original settlers, who was from Wakefield in Yorkshire. It may have also been named after Captain Arthur Wakefield, who led the expedition that first established Nelson City and Province. Arthur Wakefield was killed in the Wairau Affray, which may have helped confirm the change of name from Pitfure to Wakefield.[5][6]
Wakefield comes under the responsibility of the Tasman District Council, which has its offices in the nearby town of Richmond. It is part of the West Coast-Tasman general electorate.
St John's Church in 120 Edward Street, built in 1846, is New Zealand's second oldest surviving church. It is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I heritage structure, with registration number 40.[7] The church was designed by Marianne Reay and is considered the first European building designed by a woman in New Zealand.[8]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Areawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Tiraweke". Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Wekipira". Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. pp. 449f. ISBN 9780143204107.
- ^ McAloon, J. (1997). Nelson, A Regional History, Cape Catley.
- ^ "St John's Church (Anglican)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ Dennett, Kelly (15 October 2022). "How early female architects, often overlooked, helped shape Kiwi buildings". Stuff. Retrieved 21 April 2023.