Waimate District

Coordinates: 44°35′42″S 170°44′42″E / 44.595°S 170.745°E / -44.595; 170.745
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Waimate District
Coordinates: 44°35′42″S 170°44′42″E / 44.595°S 170.745°E / -44.595; 170.745
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury Region
Wards
  • Hakataramea-Waihaorunga
  • Lower Waihao
  • Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi
  • Waimate
Government
 • MayorCraig Rowley
 • Deputy MayorSharyn Cain
 • Territorial authorityWaimate District Council
Area
 • Total3,582.19 km2 (1,383.09 sq mi)
 • Land3,554.45 km2 (1,372.38 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[1]
 • Total8,400
 • Density2.3/km2 (6.1/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
Postcode(s)
7924, 7972, 7971, 7977, 7978, 7979, 7980, 7984, 7988, 7999, 9498
Area code03
Websitewww.waimatedc.govt.nz Edit this at Wikidata

Waimate District is a territorial authority district located in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. The main town is Waimate, while there are many smaller rural communities dispersed throughout the area. Its boundary to the south is the Waitaki River, to the west Lake Benmore and to the north-east the Pareora River.

The district is administered by the Waimate District Council and regionally by the Canterbury Regional Council. John Coles, who was first elected as a councillor in 1994, was mayor from 2004 to his retirement at the 2013 local elections.[2]

The district is the only part of New Zealand where Bennett's wallabies are prolific, after their introduction from Australia in the 19th century. The animals are a mixed blessing locally, attracting tourists but being a farm pest, and culling measures have been taken in their slowly expanding territory.[3]

Demographics[edit]

Waimate District covers 3,554.45 km2 (1,372.38 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 8,400 as of June 2023,[1] with a population density of 2.4 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20067,209—    
20137,536+0.64%
20187,815+0.73%
Source: [5]

Waimate District had a population of 7,815 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 279 people (3.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 606 people (8.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,291 households, comprising 3,963 males and 3,852 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 46.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 1,359 people (17.4%) aged under 15 years, 1,152 (14.7%) aged 15 to 29, 3,540 (45.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,770 (22.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.8% European/Pākehā, 7.3% Māori, 1.0% Pasifika, 5.0% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 14.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.6% had no religion, 38.2% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 729 (11.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,749 (27.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 726 people (11.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,081 (47.7%) people were employed full-time, 966 (15.0%) were part-time, and 177 (2.7%) were unemployed.[5]

Individual wards
Name Area (km2) Population Density (per km2) Households Median age Median income
Hakataramea-Waihaorunga Ward 2,172.40 930 0.43 351 37.6 years $36,600
Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward 1,002.84 1,881 1.88 684 41.3 years $35,200
Lower Waihao Ward 281.57 963 3.42 405 37.9 years $35,800
Waimate Ward 97.63 4,038 41.36 1,848 53.6 years $23,200
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Administrative divisions[edit]

Waimate, the district seat, is the only town in the district with a population over 1,000. It is home to 3,590 people, 42.7% of the district's population.[1]

Other settlements and localities in the district include the following:

Willowbridge, SE of Waimate
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Formerly a populated place within the defunct Waihao Ward.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Formerly a populated place within the defunct Deep Creek Ward.
Legend
  • bold - main town
  • bold & italics - minor town
  • normal text - locality
  • italics - minor locality

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "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)
  2. ^ Williams, Al (25 April 2013). "Coles calls it quits as Waimate mayor". The Timaru Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  3. ^ McNeilly, H. "Wallabies invade Richie McCaw country", stuff.co.nz, 30 October 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  4. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Waimate District (066). 2018 Census place summary: Waimate District

External links[edit]