Fordell is a rural community in the Whanganui District and Manawatà «-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is on the Marton-New Plymouth railway line east of Kaitoke and north of Whangaehu.
Paloma Gardens in Fordell is a private garden rated by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as "Significant". The American horror film X, directed by Ti West and starring Mia Goth, was filmed in the area.
Fordell locality covers . It is part of the larger Kaitoke-Fordell statistical area.
Fordell had a population of 168 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (21.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (14.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 81 males and 87 females in 63 dwellings. 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 36 people (21.4%) aged under 15 years, 24 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (44.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (23.2%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.9% European (PÃÂkehÃÂ), 12.5% MÃÂori, 7.1% Pasifika, 3.6% Asian, and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, and MÃÂori by 1.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 12.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 44.6% Christian, and 1.8% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 44.6%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 27 (20.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 81 (61.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24 (18.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 63 (47.7%) full-time, 21 (15.9%) part-time, and 6 (4.5%) unemployed.
Kaitoke-Fordell statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>.
Kaitoke-Fordell had a population of 2,061 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 291 people (16.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 288 people (16.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,197 males, 855 females, and 6 people of other genders in 612 dwellings. 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 381 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 294 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,056 (51.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 327 (15.9%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.2% European (PÃÂkehÃÂ), 21.5% MÃÂori, 2.8% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 4.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, MÃÂori by 4.5%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 3.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 31.4% Christian, 0.4% Islam, 1.7% MÃÂori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.2%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 261 (15.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,056 (62.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 363 (21.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 132 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 771 (45.9%) full-time, 258 (15.4%) part-time, and 78 (4.6%) unemployed.
Fordell School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of It opened in 1883.