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Kaniere
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Kaniere is a small town in the Westland District of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. Hokitika lies to the north-west, and the Hokitika River flows past to the south-west.[5][6]
Key Information
The locality began about 1865 as one of the main alluvial gold fields of the West Coast gold rush.[7][8] The Hokitika & Kanieri Tramway laid with wooden rails was established from Hokitika by 1868, with cars drawn by horses.[9] A road followed by 1873.[10]
Kaniere often seen written Kanieri, official spelling of the town is Kaniere [11]
Locality on the Hokitika River, 5 km southeast of Hokitika. Kaniere Survey District.
History/Origin/Meaning:
Reeds[12] Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names gives the following explanation, "Kani is the act of sawing greenstone preparatory to making tools, weapons or ornaments, a long wearisome process. The name was formerly and incorrectly spelt Kanieri. The terminal ere or eri is inexplicable. There is just a possibility that it was originally oro, literally to grind or sharpen on a stone. It may be significant that, according to legend, Kanioro was the fabled guardian of greenstone". Instead of Kanieri. This decision confirms and supersedes the decision of 1930. (Gaz 1948, p939)[13]
Demographics
[edit]Kaniere is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 570 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 194 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Hokitika Rural statistical area.[14]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 291 | — |
| 2013 | 300 | +0.44% |
| 2018 | 300 | +0.00% |
| Source: [15] | ||
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 1.30 km2 (0.50 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Kaniere had a population of 300 at the 2018 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2013 census, and an increase of 9 people (3.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 126 households, comprising 156 males and 144 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female, with 57 people (19.0%) aged under 15 years, 39 (13.0%) aged 15 to 29, 162 (54.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (13.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 95.0% European/Pākehā, 14.0% Māori, 1.0% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.0% had no religion, 33.0% were Christian, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 36 (14.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 57 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 39 people (16.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 135 (55.6%) people were employed full-time, 42 (17.3%) were part-time, and 6 (2.5%) were unemployed.[15]
Hokitika Rural statistical area
[edit]Hokitika Rural statistical area covers 140.96 km2 (54.42 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,380 as of June 2025,[16] with a population density of 9.8 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,287 | — |
| 2013 | 1,359 | +0.78% |
| 2018 | 1,440 | +1.16% |
| Source: [17] | ||
Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 154.38 km2 (59.61 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Hokitika Rural had a population of 1,440 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (6.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 153 people (11.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 570 households, comprising 732 males and 705 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 46.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 276 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 183 (12.7%) aged 15 to 29, 738 (51.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 246 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 93.3% European/Pākehā, 11.2% Māori, 0.4% Pasifika, 1.5% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 12.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.2% had no religion, 33.8% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 177 (15.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 243 (20.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 213 people (18.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 624 (53.6%) people were employed full-time, 207 (17.8%) were part-time, and 24 (2.1%) were unemployed.[17]
Education
[edit]Kaniere School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 120 students as of October 2025.[18][19]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 69. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
- ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 156. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
- ^ Rogers, Anna (2005). Illustrated History of the West Coast. p. 49. ISBN 0-7900-1022-4.
- ^ "Hokitika River". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
- ^ Rogers, p 63
- ^ Rogers, p 67
- ^ "Otago Daily Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 January 1949. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ "Gazetteer". Linz.govt.nz. 1950.
- ^ "Place name detail: 2381". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Hokitika Rural
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023797 and 7023800.
- ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Hokitika Rural (311700). 2018 Census place summary: Hokitika Rural
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Kaniere School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.