females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 41.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6,282 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 5,004 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 13,473 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 5,406 (17.9%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 89.2% European/Pākehā, 16.5% Māori, 2.0% Pacific peoples, 2.6% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.6, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 52.4% had no religion, 35.4% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 3,657 (15.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 5,595 (23.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3,549 people (14.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 12,321 (51.6%) people were employed full-time, 3,498 (14.6%) were part-time, and 726 (3.0%) were unemployed. Local government Manawatu County Council Manawatu County Council was one of 63 county councils that were formed in 1876 when the provinces were abolished. It originally extended from Rangiwahia in the north to Waikanae in the south. Over the 12 years to 1888, The towns of Palmerston North, Feilding and Foxton split off to form borough councils. The northern half of Manawatu County split off to form Oroua County Council in 1883. The area south of the Manawatū River split off to form Horowhenua County Council in 1884. Manawatū District Council Manawatu District Council was formed in 1988 when Manawatu County Council amalgamated with Kairanga County Council, itself a splinter of Oroua County Council. The following year, Manawatu District amalgamated with Feilding Borough, Kiwitea County, Oroua County and Pohangina County in the 1989 local government reforms. For the purposes of representation, Manawatū District is divided into two wards: In 2021, the council decided to establish a Māori ward from the 2022 local election. The council is responsible for day-to-day administration and services: Animal control Bylaws Cemeteries Community grants and funding Infrastructure such as roads, drains, rubbish collection Library services Liquor licensing Property profiling Ian McKelvie was elected mayor in a by-election in November 2002 and remained in the position until he resigned on 15 December 2011, after being elected to