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People

Real heart land

Possibly nowhere else in New Zealand are people shaped more by their environment than on the West Coast of the South Island. The landscape dominates almost every aspect of Coast life, from the environment we live in to the land we rely on for our livelihoods.

With just 31,000 "Coasters" spread out along a thin, 600km stretch of coastline set against a backdrop of sheer-faced mountains- it's easy to understand why we intertwine with the land around us.  We not only live amongst our natural environment, we also depend on it for our livelihoods. Our driver industries of mining, tourism and farming all rely on the land for success. 
  • Less than one percent of the NZ population lives on the Coast
  • Known affectionately as 'Coasters'
  • More than 200 clubs and recreational interest groups
  • Total crime rates are decreasing every year and are well below the national averages
  • Active Civil Defence organisation
  • The Census night population was 31,468 with about 500 more males than females
  • In 2006 there were 64 police and CIB officers working from 9 stations from Karamea to Haast, the largest being in Greymouth with 27 officers

West Coast Indicators

This section looks at three demographic indicators:  population; school age population; and migration.  The West Coast region has experienced declines in population in recent years.  The drop in population seems to have slowed with numbers flattening out over the last few years.  Table 3.1 presents a summary of demographic and education indicators for the region for the last two periods.

Table 3.1 summary demographic and education indicators

Demographics and Education Latest Previous West Coast
% Change		 New Zealand
% Change
Resident Population 31,468 31,329 0.4% 1.0%
Migration 30 -130 -123.1% -5.7%
School Enrolments 5,082 5,166 -1.6% -0.1%
Tertiary Enrolments (EFTs) 2,797 2,826 -1.0% -0.4%

The West Coast's population grew in 2007, while net outward migration was reversed.  School enrolments continued to fall although with mixed results at a primary and secondary level.  Tertiary enrolments at Tai Poutini were down slightly on the previous year.

Resident population

The West Coast population was 31,468 in 2007, up almost 150 over the year before, ending four years of increasingly small declines.  This equates to 0.4 percent population growth, while New Zealand achieved an increase of 1.0 percent.

Source: BERL 2007

Development West Coast
This site is administered by the region's economic development agency.
Development West Coast
 1st Floor, 112 Mackay Street, P O Box 451 , Greymouth , New Zealand
Phone: 03 768 0140
Fax: 03 768 0150 Email: info@dwc.org.nz