Ruby Bay
Settlement in Tasman District, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ruby Bay is a settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's upper South Island. It is located between Māpua and Tasman on Te Mamaku / Ruby Bay.[5] Ruby Bay was named after small 'rubies' (red chert) found within the moutere gravel.[6]
Ruby Bay | |
|---|---|
Rural settlement | |
| |
 Interactive map of Ruby Bay | |
| Coordinates: 41.236°S 173.083°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Territorial authority | Tasman |
| Ward | Moutere-Waimea Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Tasman District Council |
| • Mayor of Tasman | Tim King[1] |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.83 km2 (1.86 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[4] | |
• Total | 810 |
| • Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 7005, 7173 |
| Area code | 03 |
Demographics
Ruby Bay is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 4.83 km2 (1.86 sq mi)[3] and had an estimated population of 810 as of June 2025,[4] with a population density of 168 people per km2. Before the 2023 census, it was part of the larger Ruby Bay-Māpua SA2 statistical area.[7]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 555 | — |
| 2013 | 621 | +1.62% |
| 2018 | 678 | +1.77% |
| Source: [8] | ||
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 2.96 km2 (1.14 sq mi).[3] Using that boundary, Ruby Bay had a population of 678 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (9.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 123 people (22.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 249 households, comprising 327 males and 351 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female, with 105 people (15.5%) aged under 15 years, 66 (9.7%) aged 15 to 29, 330 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 171 (25.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 95.1% European/Pākehā, 6.2% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.4% had no religion, 27.9% were Christian, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 183 (31.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 75 (13.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 138 people (24.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 237 (41.4%) people were employed full-time, 93 (16.2%) were part-time, and 9 (1.6%) were unemployed.[8]