Grey District

Grey District is a district in the West Coast Region of New Zealand that covers Greymouth, Runanga, Blackball, Cobden, and settlements along the Grey River. It has a land area of 3,474.44 square kilometres (1,341.49 sq mi). The seat of the Grey District Council, the local government authority that administers the district, is at Greymouth, where 58.5% of the district's population live.

Grey District
Territorial authority district
Coordinates: 42°32′46″S 171°36′22″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast Regional Council
Wards
  • Northern
  • Central
  • Southern
  • Eastern
SeatGreymouth
Government
 • MayorTania Gibson
 • Deputy MayorAllan Gibson
 • Territorial authorityGrey District Council
Area
[1]
 • Total3,474.44 km2 (1,341.49 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total14,250
 • Density4.1/km2 (11/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
Map of postcodes
Area code03
Websitewww.greydc.govt.nz

The Grey District is on the West Coast of the South Island. It stretches from the south banks of the Punakaiki River in the north, southeast to Mt Anderson, north to The Pinacle, southeast to Craigeburn, in a southeast direction to Mt Barron, southwest to Jacksons and following the Taramakau River to the Tasman Sea.

The district is rich in history and character. Key industries are tourism, mining, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and services industries. The main hospital for the West Coast is in Greymouth.

Demographics

Grey District covers 3,474.44 km2 (1,341.49 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 14,250 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 4.1 people per km2. 8,340 live in Greymouth and 1,230 in Runanga.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200613,221—    
201313,371+0.16%
201813,344−0.04%
Source: [3]

Grey District had a population of 13,344 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 27 people (−0.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 123 people (0.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 5,361 households, comprising 6,771 males and 6,573 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 43.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 2,565 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 2,244 (16.8%) aged 15 to 29, 6,093 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,445 (18.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.2% European/Pākehā, 10.2% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 2.9% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.7% had no religion, 36.9% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,137 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 2,970 (27.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 1,329 people (12.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 5,295 (49.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,665 (15.4%) were part-time, and 372 (3.5%) were unemployed.[3]

Individual statistical areas in Grey district (2018 census)[4]
SA2 name Population Dwellings Median age Median income
Barrytown 939 552 48.8 years $26,500
Blaketown 810 411 42.2 years $27,000
Cobden 1,551 756 40.5 years $21,900
Dobson 828 390 44.6 years $27,800
Greymouth Central 978 468 52.7 years $23,900
Greymouth Rural 693 345 47.1 years $32,100
Karoro 1,017 459 47.1 years $37,000
King Park 1,053 558 45.1 years $24,800
Lake Brunner 1,065 546 20.4 years $25,900
Marsden 1,221 537 38.6 years $34,400
Nelson Creek 669 360 45.2 years $31,800
Runanga 1,185 612 45.2 years $24,400
Rutherglen-Camerons 1,332 567 46.5 years $37,500
Individual wards (2018 boundaries)
NameArea (km2)PopulationDensity (per km2)HouseholdsMedian ageMedian income
Northern Ward264.261,5906.0269046.7 years$25,100
Central Ward20.736,150296.672,63444.1 years$25,900
Southern Ward219.602,1939.9986146.4 years$38,600
Eastern Ward2,969.723,4141.151,17938.2 years$26,700
New Zealand37.4 years$31,800

History
Greymouth floods (1988)

The first buildings at the Grey River mouth were constructed by Ngati Wairangi Maori at Cobden. European settlement followed the discovery of coal and gold.

Greymouth, the district’s largest centre, lies beside the Tasman Sea and the Grey River. Greymouth experienced a rapid change in the cultural makeup of the region, reflecting an influx of migrants drawn to the gold rush, mining and related business opportunities.

As Greymouth developed, it became vulnerable to flooding. After two major floods in 1988, the Greymouth flood wall project was undertaken. Completed in 1990, the flood wall provides security for the town, and has allowed commerce to develop further.

A Māori settlement at Māwhera pā was long-established on the south bank of the Māwheranui river. When the first European explorers, Thomas Brunner and Charles Heaphy, arrived in 1846, they stayed at the pā, and were given food. Two years later, Brunner travelled up the river, which he renamed after Governor George Grey.

James Mackay negotiated with local Māori chiefs for the purchase of the West Coast region by the government, and the agreement was signed at Māwhera pā on 21 May 1860. One of the few Māori reserves was the land around the pā, now forming the main business district in Greymouth, and most of this still remains in Māori ownership.

Infrastructure

There are 619 km of road in the district, of which 358 km are sealed (2000s data).[5]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  2. "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Grey District (056). 2018 Census place summary: Grey District
  4. "2018 Census place summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. Roading Archived 4 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine (from the 'Long Term Community Outcomes Plan: 2006–2016', amended June 2007)
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