Kaniere
Town in West Coast, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[6][7]
Kaniere | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Kaniere | |
| Coordinates: 42°44′53″S 171°0′26″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | West Coast |
| District | Westland District |
| Ward | Northern |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Westland District Council |
| • Regional council | West Coast Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Westland | Helen Lash[1] |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh[2] |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 570 |
| • Density | 190/km2 (500/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7811 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
The locality began about 1865 as one of the main alluvial gold fields of the West Coast gold rush.[8][9] The Hokitika & Kanieri Tramway laid with wooden rails was established from Hokitika by 1868, with cars drawn by horses.[10] A road followed by 1873.[11]
Kaniere often seen written Kanieri, official spelling of the town is Kaniere [12]
Locality on the Hokitika River, 5 km southeast of Hokitika. Kaniere Survey District.
History/Origin/Meaning:
Reeds[13] 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)[14]
Demographics
Kaniere is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement and covers 2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 570 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 194 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Hokitika Rural statistical area.[15]
Kaniere had a population of 543 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (7.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 54 people (11.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 264 males, 276 females, and 3 people of other genders in 222 dwellings.[18] 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 84 people (15.5%) aged under 15 years, 81 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 252 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 123 (22.7%) aged 65 or older.[16]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.2% European (Pākehā), 13.3% Māori, 0.6% Pasifika, 2.8% Asian, and 6.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.9%, Māori by 1.7%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 5.5%. No language could be spoken by 0.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[16]
Religious affiliations were 29.8% Christian, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.3%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.[16]
Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (16.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 261 (56.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 120 (26.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 45 people (9.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 252 (54.9%) full-time, 63 (13.7%) part-time, and 3 (0.7%) unemployed.[16]
Hokitika Rural statistical area
Hokitika Rural statistical area, which also includes Ruatapu and Rimu, covers 140.96 km2 (54.42 sq mi)[19] and had an estimated population of 1,380 as of June 2025,[20] with a population density of 9.8 people per km2.
Hokitika Rural had a population of 1,317 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 132 people (11.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 213 people (19.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 672 males, 645 females, and 3 people of other genders in 594 dwellings.[23] 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 49.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 207 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 168 (12.8%) aged 15 to 29, 648 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 291 (22.1%) aged 65 or older.[21]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.5% European (Pākehā), 12.5% Māori, 0.5% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 5.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 1.6%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 5.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[21]
Religious affiliations were 27.8% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.4%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.[21]
Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (15.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 642 (57.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 297 (26.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 99 people (8.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 570 (51.4%) full-time, 165 (14.9%) part-time, and 15 (1.4%) unemployed.[21]
Education
Kaniere School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school[24] with a roll of 111 students as of July 2026.[25] It was open by 1867, then called Kanieri School.[26]
St Joseph's School in Kaniere was opened by the Sisters of Mercy in 1887. It closed in 1957.[27]