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Buller District

Coordinates: 41°48′47″S 171°47′35″E / 41.813°S 171.793°E / -41.813; 171.793
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Buller District
Territorial authority district
View of Westport, the district's capital
View of Westport, the district's capital
Buller district in the South Island
Buller district in the South Island
Coordinates: 41°48′47″S 171°47′35″E / 41.813°S 171.793°E / -41.813; 171.793
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast Region
Wards
  • Seddon
  • Westport
  • Inangahua
SeatWestport
Government
 • MayorJamie Cleine (Buller District Council)
 • Deputy MayorSharon Roche
 • Territorial authorityBuller District Council
Area
[1]
 • Total
7,943.35 km2 (3,066.94 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
10,500
 • Density1.3/km2 (3.4/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
Map of postcodes
Area code03
Websitebullerdc.govt.nz Edit this at Wikidata

Buller District is one of 53 districts of New Zealand, and is within the West Coast Region. It covers Westport, Karamea, Reefton and Inangahua Junction.

Buller District's overall land area is 7,943.35 km2 (3,066.94 sq mi). The district is administered by the Buller District Council with the seat in Westport, in which 45% of the district's population live.

History

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It is understood by the carbon dating of Umu (ovens) that the Māori people settled in this region some 700 years ago.

The district takes its name from the Buller River, itself named for Charles Buller, a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (UK) and director of the New Zealand Company, a UK-based company established in the early 19th century with a royal charter supporting colonisation efforts of New Zealand.

During the period 1853 to 1876, the current area of Buller District was administered as part of Nelson Province. With the Abolition of Provinces Act 1876, much of the current area of Buller District was administered in the newly created (January 1877) bodies of Buller County and Inangahua County.

The Buller District was formed under the 1989 local government reforms through the amalgamation of Buller County, Inangahua County and the Westport Borough Councils.[3]

Population

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Buller District covers 7,943.35 km2 (3,066.94 sq mi)[1] and had a 'usually resident population count' of 10,446 as of the as of the 2023 New Zealand census,[4] meaning a population density of 1.3 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20069,702—    
201310,473+1.10%
20189,591−1.74%
202310,446+1.72%
Source: [5][6]

Buller District's 2023 census population was an increase of 855 people (8.9%) compared to the 2018 census, and a decrease of 27 people (−0.3%) compared to the 2013 census. Buller District was the only territorial authority of New Zealand to see a population decrease between the 2013 and 2023 censuses.[4]

Data that follows is from the 2023 census. There were 5,358 males, 5,049 females and 36 people of other genders in 5,049 dwellings.[7] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,536 people (14.7%) aged under 15 years, 1,197 (11.5%) aged 15 to 29, 4,962 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,751 (26.3%) aged 65 or older.[6]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.6% European (Pākehā); 13.0% Māori; 1.7% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori language by 2.3%, and other languages by 5.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 26.7% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.6%, and 10.1% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 750 (8.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 4,920 (55.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,946 (33.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $28,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 558 people (6.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,504 (39.3%) people were employed full-time, 1,356 (15.2%) were part-time, and 270 (3.0%) were unemployed.[6]

Population density in the 2023 census
Individual wards
Name Area
(km2)		 Population Density
(per km2)		 Dwellings Median age Median
income
Seddon Ward 3,627.70 1,872 0.52 963 57.1 years $25,900[8]
Inangahua Ward 3,198.56 1,929 0.60 963 49.9 years $30,000[9]
Westport Ward 1,117.09 6,642 5.95 3,123 51.1 years $29,500[10]
New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

References

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  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Buller Heritage". Buller District Libraries. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b Stats NZ (29 May 2024). "2023 Census population counts (by ethnic group, age, and Māori descent) and dwelling counts". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Buller District (055). 2018 Census place summary: Buller District
  6. ^ a b c "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Buller District (055). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Seddon Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Inangahua Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Westport Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
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Media related to Buller District at Wikimedia Commons

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