Lepperton

Lepperton
Coordinates:
Country	New Zealand
Region	Taranaki Region
Territorial authority	New Plymouth District
Ward	North General Ward Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
Community	Waitara Community
Electorates	New Plymouth Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	New Plymouth District Council
• Regional council	Taranaki Regional Council
• Mayor of New Plymouth	Max Brough
• New Plymouth MP	David MacLeod
• Te Tai Hauāuru MP	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
• Total	1.26 km2 (0.49 sq mi)
Population  (June 2025)
• Total	410
• Density	330/km2 (840/sq mi)

Lepperton is a small village in North Taranaki, New Zealand. It is approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) inland from Waitara township, 5 km (3.1 mi) west of the Waitara River, and 1 km (0.62 mi) east of State Highway 3A, which connects Inglewood to Waitara.

Demographics

Lepperton is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement which covers 1.26 km² (0.49 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 410 as of June 2025, with a population density of 325 people per km². Lepperton is part of the larger Lepperton-Brixton statistical area.

Historical population for Lepperton

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	300	—
2013	231	−3.66%
2018	294	+4.94%
2023	384	+5.49%
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 7.63 km2. Source:

Lepperton had a population of 384 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 90 people (30.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 153 people (66.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 195 males and 186 females in 129 dwellings. 0.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 99 people (25.8%) aged under 15 years, 48 (12.5%) aged 15 to 29, 192 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (10.9%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.6% European (Pākehā), 17.2% Māori, 3.9% Pasifika, 5.5% Asian, and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.1%, Māori by 1.6%, and other languages by 3.1%. No language could be spoken by 3.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 10.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 24.2% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.8%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 54 (18.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 180 (63.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 57 (20.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $50,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 42 people (14.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 168 (58.9%) full-time, 45 (15.8%) part-time, and 6 (2.1%) unemployed.

Lepperton-Brixton

Lepperton-Brixton statistical area covers 46.52 km² (17.96 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,970 as of June 2025, with a population density of 42 people per km².

Historical population for Lepperton-Brixton

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,296	—
2013	1,524	+2.34%
2018	1,725	+2.51%
2023	1,893	+1.88%
Source:

Lepperton-Brixton had a population of 1,893 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 168 people (9.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 369 people (24.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 960 males, 930 females, and 6 people of other genders in 690 dwellings. 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 387 people (20.4%) aged under 15 years, 258 (13.6%) aged 15 to 29, 903 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 342 (18.1%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.1% European (Pākehā); 20.4% Māori; 1.4% Pasifika; 3.8% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori by 3.6%, and other languages by 4.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 26.8% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.5% Islam, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.7%, and 9.7% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 225 (14.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 912 (60.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 369 (24.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $43,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 180 people (12.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 789 (52.4%) full-time, 285 (18.9%) part-time, and 24 (1.6%) unemployed.

Kairoa Pa

Near Lepperton is Kairoa Pa, an historic centre for local Maori settlement. It is also an entry point for the Whakaahurangi track to Ketemarae Pa near Normanby. This track linked northern and southern Taranaki before British settlement.

Climate

Climate data for Lepperton, New Zealand
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Daily mean °C (°F)	17 (63)	17 (63)	16 (61)	14 (57)	12 (54)	10 (50)	9 (48)	10 (50)	11 (52)	12 (54)	14 (57)	16 (61)	13 (55)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	103 (4.1)	92 (3.6)	105 (4.1)	124 (4.9)	145 (5.7)	149 (5.9)	158 (6.2)	139 (5.5)	111 (4.4)	117 (4.6)	120 (4.7)	119 (4.7)	1,481 (58.3)
Source: Weatherbase

Education

Lepperton School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 127 students as of July 2025. The school was founded in 1870.

Further reading

General historical works

Even the Dogs Have Forgotten to Bark A 284 A4 page fully indexed comprehensive history of Lepperton, Sentry Hill and Waiongana. Author PT Wilson published 2012 Available in most Taranaki libraries.

A second edition of "Even the Dogs Have Forgotten to Bark" was published in 2020. Largely a reprint but some important updates have been made. (ISBN 978-0-473-50951-4) A few copies of the book are still available. This edition is also available in most Taranaki libraries. Authors website is https://wisdomisashelter.co.nz

Business history

• A substantial deposit of records pertaining to the Lepperton Co-operative Dairy Company (from 1930–1966) is held at in New Plymouth. See

Maps

• Scale: 1: 4 752 (i.e. 1/13.3 in. to the mile)
• Scale: 1: 20 000 (i.e. 1/3.17 in. to the mile) NZMS 43
• Scale: 1: 25 000 (i.e. 1/2.53 in. to the mile) NZMS 2; N109/1 & N99/7
• Scale: 1: 20 000 (i.e. 1/3.17 in. to the mile)

External links

• Statistics NZ: Lepperton Community Profile Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
• Map of Lepperton census ward
• Lepperton School website
• Radio New Zealand National programme, Afternoons with Jim Mora, Thursday 20 September 2012 Your Place – Lepperton Play or download options