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Paroa, West Coast

Coordinates: 42°30′39″S 171°10′9″E / 42.51083°S 171.16917°E / -42.51083; 171.16917
From Tilcayo Cats, the lean encyclopaedia by Tilcayo Knowledge Systems

Paroa
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Interactive map of Paroa
Coordinates: 42°30′39″S 171°10′9″E / 42.51083°S 171.16917°E / -42.51083; 171.16917
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictGrey District
WardSouthern
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityGrey District Council
 • Regional councilWest Coast Regional Council
 • Mayor of GreyTania Gibson[3]
 • West Coast-Tasman MPMaureen Pugh[4]
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[5]
Area
[1]
 • Total
3.91 km2 (1.51 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)[2]
 • Total
867
 • Density222/km2 (574/sq mi)
Local iwiNgāi 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.[6][7] This railway was originally a bush tramway that opened to Paroa from Greymouth in 1867 and was extended to Kumara in 1877.[8] It was converted into a railway in 1893, and this time, ran from Paroa to Hokitika rather than Kumara.[9]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "broad fortified village" for Pāroa.[10]

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.[11]

Demographics

Paroa covers 3.91 km2 (1.51 sq mi).[1] It is part of the larger Rutherglen-Camerons statistical area.[12]

Historical population for Paroa
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006585—    
2013669+1.94%
2018765+2.72%
2023867+2.53%
Source: [2][13]

Paroa had a population of 867 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 102 people (13.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 198 people (29.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 435 males, 435 females, and 3 people of other genders in 327 dwellings.[14] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 153 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 123 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 420 (48.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 168 (19.4%) aged 65 or older.[2]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.0% European (Pākehā), 8.7% Māori, 1.4% Pasifika, 3.8% Asian, and 5.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori by 0.7%, and other languages by 4.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 11.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[2]

Religious affiliations were 39.1% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, and 0.3% Islam. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.3%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.[2]

Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 456 (63.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 156 (21.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 105 people (14.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 408 (57.1%) full-time, 96 (13.4%) part-time, and 3 (0.4%) unemployed.[2]

Rutherglen-Camerons statistical area

Rutherglen-Camerons statistical area, which also includes Rutherglen, Gladstone and Camerons, covers 12.12 km2 (4.68 sq mi).[15] It had an estimated population of 1,510 as of June 2025,[16] with a population density of 125 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,071—    
20131,197+1.60%
20181,332+2.16%
20231,458+1.82%
Source: [17][18]

Rutherglen-Camerons had a population of 1,458 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 126 people (9.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 261 people (21.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 741 males, 714 females, and 3 people of other genders in 567 dwellings.[19] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 249 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 207 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 711 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 291 (20.0%) aged 65 or older.[17]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.2% European (Pākehā), 9.1% Māori, 1.0% Pasifika, 3.1% Asian, and 4.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori by 0.8%, and other languages by 4.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[17]

Religious affiliations were 36.2% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 0.2% New Age, and 0.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.8%, and 6.8% of people did not answer the census question.[17]

Of those at least 15 years old, 165 (13.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 768 (63.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 279 (23.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $47,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 171 people (14.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 678 (56.1%) full-time, 150 (12.4%) part-time, and 12 (1.0%) unemployed.[17]

Education

Paroa School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 172.[20] The school originally accepted year 1–6 pupils only, but changed to include year 7 and 8 students in 2001.[21] It opened in 1876.[22]

Climate

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 [23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7023681, 7023682, 7023683, 7023684 and 7023685. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "West Coast-Tasman - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  6. ↑ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 69. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. ↑ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 156. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. ↑ "Kumara, Westland". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  9. ↑ "Hokitika-Grey railway". No. 9537. West Coast Times. 25 May 1893. p. 2.
  10. ↑ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  11. ↑ "History of Shantytown". Archived from the original on 24 February 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  12. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  13. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023681, 7023682, 7023683, 7023684 and 7023685.
  14. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Rutherglen-Camerons (310700). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Rutherglen-Camerons (310700). 2018 Census place summary: Rutherglen-Camerons
  19. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "Paroa School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  21. ↑ "Education Review Report - Paroa School". Education Review Office. 5 May 2023.
  22. ↑ "Paroa School 150th Reunion". Grey District Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Climate Statistics for Paroa (1961-1990)". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
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