the presence of hot springs 3 km to the west of the town at Parakai. A lot of the early history of Helensville is described in the book Men Came Voyaging written by Colleen Sheffield, who lost her life in a bus accident before the book was completed. Demographics Helensville covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Helensville had a population of 2,787 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 144 people (5.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 255 people (10.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 993 households, comprising 1,413 males and 1,377 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 36.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 642 people (23.0%) aged under 15 years, 507 (18.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,221 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 417 (15.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 84.6% European/Pākehā, 20.3% Māori, 7.6% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.8, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.3% had no religion, 30.2% were Christian, 2.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 330 (15.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 435 (20.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 339 people (15.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,065 (49.7%) people were employed full-time, 327 (15.2%) were part-time, and 87 (4.1%) were unemployed. Rural surrounds Helensville Rural statistical area surrounds the settlement and covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Helensville Rural had a population of 1,524 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 189 people (14.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 315 people (26.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 498 households, comprising 771 males and 753 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 42.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 306 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 264