Ahaura is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, sited where the Ahaura River flows into the Grey River. State Highway 7 and the Stillwater–Ngākawau railway line pass through the town. Greymouth is 34 kilometres (21 mi) to the south-west, and Reefton is 44 kilometres (27 mi) to the north-east.[2][3]
Ahaura | |
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![]() Ahaura River Bridge | |
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Coordinates: 42°20′54″S 171°32′26″E | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | West Coast |
District | Grey District |
Ward | Eastern |
Population (2018)[1] | |
• Total | 96 |
Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
European settlement of the area began with the establishment of a pastoral run near the junction of the Ahaura and Grey Rivers in 1858.[4]
At one time the town supported six hotels, two butcheries, a bakery, a blacksmith's shop, and a printing office.[5]
The population of Ahaura was 96 in the 2018 census, unchanged from 2013. There were 57 males and 39 females. 96.9% of people identified as European/Pākehā and 3.1% as Māori. 12.5% were under 15 years old, 15.6% were 15–29, 46.9% were 30–64, and 25.0% were 65 or older.[1]
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 717 | — |
2013 | 714 | −0.06% |
2018 | 669 | −1.29% |
Source: [6] |
The statistical area of Nelson Creek, which at 900 square kilometres is much larger than Ahaura, had a population of 669 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 45 people (−6.3%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 48 people (−6.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 276 households. There were 381 males and 294 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.3 males per female. The median age was 45.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 120 people (17.9%) aged under 15 years, 105 (15.7%) aged 15 to 29, 336 (50.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (16.6%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 94.2% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 1.3% Pacific peoples, 0.9% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
The proportion of people born overseas was 8.5%, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 57.4% had no religion, 33.6% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 54 (9.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 162 (29.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 306 (55.7%) people were employed full-time, 75 (13.7%) were part-time, and 18 (3.3%) were unemployed.[6]
Awahono School – Grey Valley is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 77 students as of March 2022.[7][8] The school was formed at the beginning of 2005 from the merger of Ahaura, Moonlight, Ngahere and Totara Flat schools.[9]
Grey District, New Zealand | |||||||||
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Seat: Greymouth | |||||||||
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Grey River / Māwheranui | |
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Source: Southern Alps — Flows into: Tasman Sea | |
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