patterns by the mountains to the west. The Nor'wester foehn wind is thus a frequent weather pattern, and annual rainfall is only in the region of . Demographics Ranfurly is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers . It is part of the much larger Maniototo statistical area. Ranfurly had a population of 726 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (9.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 12 people (1.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 333 households. There were 348 males and 375 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female, with 90 people (12.4%) aged under 15 years, 93 (12.8%) aged 15 to 29, 288 (39.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 246 (33.9%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 91.3% European/Pākehā, 12.8% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 3.3% Asian, and 0.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Although some people objected to giving their religion, 43.4% had no religion, 48.8% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu and 0.8% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (7.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 192 (30.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 252 (39.6%) people were employed full-time, 105 (16.5%) were part-time, and 9 (1.4%) were unemployed. Sport Ranfurly lies close to the heart of New Zealand's curling-playing region, and the local club have represented New Zealand at the 1999, 2004, and 2005 World Championships (finishing tenth, seventh and eighth respectively), as well as providing members for the New Zealand 2006 Winter Olympics curling team. Ranfurly has been the birthplace of several recent members of the New Zealand women's (field) hockey team. Education Maniototo Area School is a co-educational state area school for Year 1 to 13 students, with a roll of as of . The school has predecessors from 1879. St John's School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of . It was established in 1945. Notable people Sean Becker, curler Shane Collins, field hockey player John Grenell, country singer Andrew Hore, All Black Robert Logan, military leader and politician Warren McSkimming, cricketer Peter Petherick, cricketer and lawn bowls player Mandy Smith, field hockey player Isobel Thomson, field hockey player David Kilgour,