Merrilands

Suburb in New Plymouth, New Zealand

Merrilands
Suburb
Merrilands shopping centre on Mangorei Road
Interactive map of Merrilands
Coordinates: 39°3′56″S 174°6′19″E / 39.06556°S 174.10528°E / -39.06556; 174.10528
Country	New Zealand
City	New Plymouth
Local authority	New Plymouth District Council
Electoral ward	Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
Area [1]
• Land	173 ha (430 acres)
Population  (June 2025)[2]
• Total	3,130
• Density	1,810/km2 (4,690/sq mi)

Strandon	Fitzroy	Glen Avon
	Merrilands
Welbourn	Highlands Park

Merrilands is a suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the south-east of the city centre. The Waiwhakaiho River runs past Merrilands to the east, and Te Hēnui Stream runs past to the west.[3]

Merrilands covers 1.73 km2 (0.67 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,130 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,809 people per km2.

Merrilands had a population of 3,039 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 114 people (3.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 228 people (8.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,464 males, 1,563 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,209 dwellings.[6] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 570 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 537 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,263 (41.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 672 (22.1%) aged 65 or older.[4]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.6% European (Pākehā); 18.7% Māori; 4.4% Pasifika; 7.1% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.8%, Māori by 3.6%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 8.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]

Religious affiliations were 32.9% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 1.0% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.8%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.[4]

Of those at least 15 years old, 525 (21.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,335 (54.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 606 (24.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 273 people (11.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,176 (47.6%) full-time, 315 (12.8%) part-time, and 51 (2.1%) unemployed.[4]

Merrilands School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 152 students as of October 2025.[7][8] The school was established in 1960.[9]

There is one main shopping centre located in Merrilands. This is located on the corner of Cumberland Street and Mangorei Road. Shops include a Lotto and Post Shop, New World supermarket, pharmacy, hair salon, dentist, medical centre, along with a fuel station. A smaller group of shops, including a dairy and bakery, are at the intersection of Mangorei Road and Karaka Street.

• Merrilands School website