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Kaniere is a small town in the Westland District of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. Hokitika lies to the north-west, and the Hokitika River flows past to the south-west.

The locality began about 1865 as one of the main alluvial gold fields of the West Coast gold rush. The Hokitika & Kanieri Tramway laid with wooden rails was established from Hokitika by 1868, with cars drawn by horses. A road followed by 1873.

Kaniere often seen written Kanieri, official spelling of the town is Kaniere

Locality on the Hokitika River, 5 km southeast of Hokitika. Kaniere Survey District.

History/Origin/Meaning:

Reeds Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names gives the following explanation, "Kani is the act of sawing greenstone preparatory to making tools, weapons or ornaments, a long wearisome process. The name was formerly and incorrectly spelt Kanieri. The terminal ere or eri is inexplicable. There is just a possibility that it was originally oro, literally to grind or sharpen on a stone. It may be significant that, according to legend, Kanioro was the fabled guardian of greenstone". Instead of Kanieri. This decision confirms and supersedes the decision of 1930. (Gaz 1948, p939)

Demographics

Kaniere is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 2.94 km (1.14 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 550 as of June 2024, with a population density of 187 people per km. The settlement is part of the larger Hokitika Rural statistical area.

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 1.30 km (0.50 sq mi). Using that boundary, Kaniere had a population of 300 at the 2018 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2013 census, and an increase of 9 people (3.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 126 households, comprising 156 males and 144 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female, with 57 people (19.0%) aged under 15 years, 39 (13.0%) aged 15 to 29, 162 (54.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (13.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.0% European/Pākehā, 14.0% Māori, 1.0% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.0% had no religion, 33.0% were Christian, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 36 (14.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 57 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 39 people (16.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 135 (55.6%) people were employed full-time, 42 (17.3%) were part-time, and 6 (2.5%) were unemployed.

Hokitika Rural statistical area

Hokitika Rural statistical area covers 140.96 km (54.42 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,320 as of June 2024, with a population density of 9.4 people per km.

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 154.38 km (59.61 sq mi). Using that boundary, Hokitika Rural had a population of 1,440 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (6.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 153 people (11.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 570 households, comprising 732 males and 705 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 46.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 276 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 183 (12.7%) aged 15 to 29, 738 (51.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 246 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.3% European/Pākehā, 11.2% Māori, 0.4% Pasifika, 1.5% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.2% had no religion, 33.8% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 177 (15.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 243 (20.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 213 people (18.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 624 (53.6%) people were employed full-time, 207 (17.8%) were part-time, and 24 (2.1%) were unemployed.

Education

Kaniere School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 108 students as of November 2024.

Notes

1. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 69. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
4. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 156. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
5. Rogers, Anna (2005). Illustrated History of the West Coast. p. 49. ISBN 0-7900-1022-4.
6. "Hokitika River". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
7. Rogers, p 63
8. Rogers, p 67
9. "Otago Daily Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 January 1949. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
10. "Gazetteer". Linz.govt.nz. 1950.
11. "Place name detail: 2381". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
12. 2018 Census place summary: Hokitika Rural
13. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023797 and 7023800.
14. "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
15. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Hokitika Rural (311700). 2018 Census place summary: Hokitika Rural
16. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
17. Education Counts: Kaniere School

• Westland District
• Populated places in the West Coast Region