Paroa
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Paroa Trestle on the old Hokitika Branch line
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| Coordinates: 42°30′39″S 171°10′9″E / 42.51083°S 171.16917°E / -42.51083; 171.16917 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | West Coast |
| District | Grey District |
| Ward | Southern |
| Electorates |
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| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Grey District Council |
| • Regional council | West Coast Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Grey | Tania Gibson |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.12 km2 (4.68 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)[2]
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| • Total | 1,460 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Paroa is a settlement on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, just south of Greymouth. State Highway 6 and the Hokitika Branch railway both run through Paroa.[3][4] This railway was originally a bush tramway that opened to Paroa from Greymouth in 1867 and was extended to Kumara in 1877.[5] It was converted into a railway in 1893, and this time, ran from Paroa to Hokitika rather than Kumara.[6]
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "broad fortified village" for Pāroa.[7]
Shantytown, to the south-east of Paroa, is a recreation of a typical 1880s West Coast gold mining town, built in 1971 and operating as a commercial tourist attraction.[8]
Rutherglen-Camerons statistical area, which is larger than Paroa, covers 12.12 km2 (4.68 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 1,460 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 120 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,071 | — |
| 2013 | 1,197 | +1.60% |
| 2018 | 1,332 | +2.16% |
| Source: [9] | ||
Rutherglen-Camerons had a population of 1,332 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 135 people (11.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 261 people (24.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 513 households, comprising 681 males and 654 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 46.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 255 people (19.1%) aged under 15 years, 192 (14.4%) aged 15 to 29, 657 (49.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 231 (17.3%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 95.7% European/Pākehā, 8.8% Māori, 1.1% Pasifika, 2.3% Asian, and 0.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.7% had no religion, 40.8% were Christian, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (12.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 246 (22.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 231 people (21.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 582 (54.0%) people were employed full-time, 183 (17.0%) were part-time, and 15 (1.4%) were unemployed.[9]
Paroa School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 172.[10] The school originally accepted year 1-6 pupils only, but changed to include year 7 and 8 students in 2001.[11]
| Climate data for Paroa | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 222 (8.7) |
149 (5.9) |
210 (8.3) |
237 (9.3) |
237 (9.3) |
203 (8.0) |
211 (8.3) |
209 (8.2) |
236 (9.3) |
248 (9.8) |
241 (9.5) |
234 (9.2) |
2,637 (103.8) |
| Source: The Weather Network [12] | |||||||||||||
