Town in the South Island of New Zealand
Ahaura is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, sited where the Ahaura River flows into the Grey River. State Highway 7 and the Stillwater–Ngākawau railway line pass through the town. Greymouth is to the south-west, and Reefton is to the north-east.
European settlement of the area began with the establishment of a pastoral run near the junction of the Ahaura and Grey Rivers in 1858.
At one time the town supported six hotels, two butcheries, a bakery, a blacksmith's shop, and a printing office.
Demographics.
Ahaura is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers . It had an estimated population of 110 as of June 2024, with a population density of people per km2. Ahaura is part of the larger Nelson Creek statistical area.
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Ahaura had a population of 96 at the 2018 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 15 people (−13.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 45 households, comprising 57 males and 39 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.46 males per female. The median age was 52.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 12 people (12.5%) aged under 15 years, 15 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 45 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (25.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 96.9% European/Pākehā, and 3.1% Māori.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 43.8% had no religion, and 50.0% were Christian.
Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (7.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 24 (28.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (17.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 45 (53.6%) people were employed full-time, 9 (10.7%) were part-time, and 3 (3.6%) were unemployed.
Climate.
Located in the central Grey Valley at an altitude of 80m, Ahaura falls under the Köppen-Geiger climate classification of Cfb (Oceanic), though the nearby Paparoa Range shelters the settlement from moderating seabreezes on summer afternoons, and on winter nights cold air sinks from the Paparoas into the Grey Valley, which results in many more frosts per winter than nearby Greymouth. The area typically observes lower rainfall totals than coastal locations due to the rain-shadow effect of the Paparoa Range.
Nelson Creek statistical area.
Nelson Creek statistical area covers and had an estimated population of 790 as of June 2024, with a population density of people per km2.
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Nelson Creek had a population of 669 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 45 people (−6.3%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 48 people (−6.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 276 households, comprising 381 males and 294 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.3 males per female. The median age was 45.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 120 people (17.9%) aged under 15 years, 105 (15.7%) aged 15 to 29, 336 (50.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (16.6%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 94.2% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 8.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.4% had no religion, 33.6% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 54 (9.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (29.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 63 people (11.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 306 (55.7%) people were employed full-time, 75 (13.7%) were part-time, and 18 (3.3%) were unemployed.
Education.
Awahono School – Grey Valley is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 98 students as of November 2024. The school was formed at the beginning of 2005 from the merger of Ahaura, Moonlight, Ngahere and Totara Flat schools.
Notes.
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