Waimangaroa is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand.
Waimangaroa | |
|---|---|
 Denniston Road Scenic Reserve | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 41°42′46″S 171°45′46″E / 41.71278°S 171.76278°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | West Coast |
| District | Buller District |
| Ward | Seddon |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Buller District Council |
| • Regional council | West Coast Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Buller | Jamie Cleine |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.58 km2 (0.61 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
| • Total | 230 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (380/sq mi) |
The township lies on the south-west bank of the Waimangaroa River, at the western foot of the Denniston Plateau. It is 17 kilometres (11 mi) to the north east of Westport and 13 km south-east of Granity. The abandoned coaltown of Denniston is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the south-east.[3][4] The Bridle Track, a scenic bush track, leads south-east along the Denniston Incline into the foothills of the Mt William Range, to Denniston.[5] The Stockton mine, a large open cast coal mine, is operated in the vicinity by Solid Energy.[6]
The Ngakawau Branch, a branch line railway, runs through the town. It opened to Waimangaroa on 5 August 1876; it formerly ran to Seddonville but now terminates in Ngakawau. From 1877 until 1967, Waimangaroa was also the junction for the Conns Creek Branch, which ran east alongside the Waimangaroa River to the foot of the Denniston Incline. Passenger services ceased on the Conns Creek Branch in 1931 and Ngakawau Branch on 14 October 1946. Since this time, the railway through Waimangaroa has almost solely conveyed coal.
The beaches to the west have dangerous currents and are not safe for swimming.[7]
Demographics
editWaimangaroa is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 1.58 km2 (0.61 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 230 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 146 people per km2. It is part of the larger Buller Coalfields statistical area.[8]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 225 | — |
| 2013 | 252 | +1.63% |
| 2018 | 228 | −1.98% |
| Source: [9] | ||
Waimangaroa had a population of 228 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−9.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3 people (1.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 99 households, comprising 123 males and 105 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female, with 45 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 21 (9.2%) aged 15 to 29, 105 (46.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 54 (23.7%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 89.5% European/Pākehā, 10.5% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.6% had no religion, 28.9% were Christian and 1.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (6.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 51 (27.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 12 people (6.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 66 (36.1%) people were employed full-time, 18 (9.8%) were part-time, and 9 (4.9%) were unemployed.[9]
Education
editWaimangaroa School was a coeducational full primary school (years 1-8). The school celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2004.[10] It closed permanently in 2012[11] and is now in private ownership. Waimangaroa children now attend schools in Westport.
Notable people
edit- Becky Manawatu (born 1982), writer
References
edit- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 63. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
- ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 141. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
- ^ "Denniston walking tracks". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ "Stockton (Opencast)". Solid Energy. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ Brathwaite, Errol (1981). The Companion Guide to Westland. Auckland: Collins. p. 80. ISBN 0-00-216967-3.
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Buller Coalfields
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023587 and 7023588.
- ^ "Jubilees & reunions: Waimangaroa School, 125th Jubilee". Education Gazette New Zealand. 83 (3). 22 February 2004.
- ^ Fulton, Kim (30 November 2012). "Waimangaroa school to close". Westport News. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 19 February 2020.