to giving their religion, 49.6% had no religion, 35.9% were Christian, 1.8% were Hindu, 1.6% were Muslim, 1.1% were Buddhist and 3.2% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 15,432 (22.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 11,508 (16.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 9,792 people (14.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 32,877 (48.4%) people were employed full-time, 9,882 (14.5%) were part-time, and 3,204 (4.7%) were unemployed. Palmerston North urban area The Palmerston North urban area had a usual resident population of 76,236 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3,939 people (5.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 5,550 people (7.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 37,080 males and 39,156 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. Of the total population, 14,871 people (19.5%) were aged up to 15 years, 19,545 (25.6%) were 15 to 29, 30,873 (40.5%) were 30 to 64, and 10,947 (14.4%) were 65 or older. In terms of ethnicity, 74.4% of the population identified as European (Pākehā), 19.1% as Māori, 5.6% as Pacific peoples, 12.9% as Asian, and 3.1% as other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Governance Palmerston North City Council Palmerston North is governed by a city council consisting of the mayor and 15 councillors, elected on a citywide basis. Before the 2016 election councillors were elected representing one of five city wards, but Palmerston North's electoral wards were abolished by the Local Government Commission in 2013. The 2013 election also saw the single transferable vote (STV) system introduced, replacing first past the post (FPP). In 2017 the Council voted to create a Māori ward, but the decision was overturned by a city-wide referendum in May 2018. As of March 2020, there are 12 independent councillors, two affiliated with the Green Party and two with Labour. A by-election was held in February 2021, electing Orphée Mickalad to fill the vacancy left by deputy mayor Tangi Utikere resigning after being elected as an MP in the 2020 general election. The Council's functions are broken down into six units: Strategy & Planning, Customer, Finance, Community, Infrastructure, and Marketing & Communications. The Chief Executive is Heather Shotter, who replaces Paddy Clifford. Horizons (Manawatū-Whanganui) Regional