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Greymouth

Coordinates: 42°27′01″S 171°12′28″E / 42.4502514°S 171.2078905°E / -42.4502514; 171.2078905
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Greymouth
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictGrey District
Population
 (June 2018)[1]
 • Total
9,700

Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region on the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is 13,750, which accounts for 42% of the West Coast's inhabitants. The Greymouth urban area had an estimated population of 9,700 (June 2018s).[1] The District Council expects growth of 1.5% per year between 2006 and 2016.[2]

Location

The town is located at the mouth of the Grey River, on a narrow coastal plain close to the foot of the Southern Alps. In clear weather, Aoraki/Mount Cook can be clearly seen to the south from near the town. The mouth of the river divides the town into three areas: Blaketown, close to the river's mouth on the south bank; Karoro, to the southeast, separated from Blaketown by a series of small estuarine lakes; and Cobden, formerly a separate town, on the river's north bank.

Greymouth is on State Highway 6, which connects it with Hokitika in the south and Westport in the north. It also stands at the terminus of State Highway 7, which runs through Dobson and Reefton, eventually reaching North Canterbury and its junction with State Highway 1 at Waipara (55km north of Christchurch) via Lewis Pass. The town is also the western terminus of the Midland line from Christchurch. Large coal trains often operate from Greymouth on this line to Christchurch. The famous TranzAlpine train also terminates and begins in Greymouth.

History

Fisherman statue on the seawall.

Māori had lived in Greymouth for considerable time before European settlement, and called the area Mawhera (for 'wide spread river mouth',[3] still an alternative name for the Grey River). The first European to visit the site of what is now Greymouth was Thomas Brunner in 1846. Brunner discovered coal in the Grey valley, and several places in the region (notably the town of Brunner and Lake Brunner) bear his name. Brunner himself named the Grey River after prominent 19th century New Zealand politician Sir George Grey.[4] Together with gold, coal mining was a major impetus in the town's early European history.[3]

From 1853 until the abolition of provinces in 1876, Greymouth was first part of Canterbury (the West Coast part of the Province was known as West Canterbury) and then part of an independent Westland Province. However Cobden, on the north (or right) bank of the Grey River was a part of Nelson Province from 1853 - 1876. At one point in this period Greymouth tried to join Nelson Province but this movement was ultimately unsuccessful.[citation needed]

Greymouth has a history of coal and gold mining. When the mining industry started to decline, forestry became a new staple industry. Fishing has long been important to the town, despite the fact that the entrance to the Grey River has two notoriously dangerous sandbars - an inner and outer bar.

Greymouth also has an historic World War II gun emplacement at Cobden. The Grey District Council destroyed part of this site, without consultation, in 2007 to make way for a sewer line [5]

On 10 March 2005, a major tornado, which started as a waterspout, made landfall in Blaketown, a suburb of Greymouth. It quickly moved through the town passing just south of the main town centre. The tornado was one of the largest reported in recent history in the West Coast region and caused millions of dollars in damage and injured several people.[6]

Economy

The town's major industries include fishing, mining, forestry, and ecotourism, the latter two of these industries holding an uneasy relationship with each other. The Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, 45 km to the north are a popular local tourist attraction, while many also pass through on the route to or from the glaciers to the south.

Greymouth is also known for its Pounamu ("Greenstone", a form of Jade) carving industry which goes back to Māori origins.[3] The town also has a local brewery, Monteiths, which produces beer since 1868,[4] now sold countrywide.

The planned opening of the Pike River mine in early 2008 will spur new investment into upgrading port facilities at the town.[7] Without the development, a closure of the port had been mooted, and hopes are now that the coal barges travelling to and from reshipment facilities in Taranaki can also carry containerised cargo to the town. The opening of the new mine, as well as the planned Spring Creek mine, has been called the biggest investment happening in the area for a hundred years.[8]

Education

There are four schools in the central Greymouth area, and other schools in the suburbs or adjoining areas of Blaketown, Cobden and Karoro.

Greymouth High School is a secondary (years 9-15) school with a roll of 655.[9] Greymouth Main School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 407.[10]

John Paul II High School is a secondary (years 9-15) school with a roll of 138.[11] The school was formed in 1980 from the merger of Marist Brothers Boys’ School and St Mary’s High School.[12] St Patrick's School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 135.[13] Both are state integrated Catholic schools. The schools are adjacent to each other and have a shared Board of Trustees.[14][15]

All these schools are coeducational, and have decile ratings of 4 or 5.

See also

References

Aoraki/Mount Cook and other mountains from Greymouth's beach.
  1. ^ a b "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2019". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020. For urban areas, "Subnational population estimates (UA, AU), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996, 2001, 2006–18 (2017 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  2. ^ Key assumptions... (from the 'Long Term Community Outcomes Plan: 2006-2016', amended June 2007)
  3. ^ a b c Greymouth (from Tourism New Zealand, the official New Zealand tourism agency)
  4. ^ a b Greymouth / Blackball (from the Tourism West Coast website)
  5. ^ Cobden Coastal Defence Gun Emplacement (from the 'nzrifle.com' website. Accessed 2008-01-16.)
  6. ^ Widespread damage after Greymouth tornado - The New Zealand Herald, Thursday 10 March 2005
  7. ^ How the West was won:Pike River on track - New Zealand Construction News, Volume 2, Issues 3, July 2007
  8. ^ Pike River coal mine goes ahead on DOC land - The New Zealand Herald, Sunday 14 January 2007
  9. ^ "Te Kete Ipurangi - Greymouth High School". Ministry of Education.
  10. ^ "Te Kete Ipurangi - Greymouth Main School". Ministry of Education.
  11. ^ "Te Kete Ipurangi - John Paul II High School". Ministry of Education.
  12. ^ "Description of the School". John Paul II High School.
  13. ^ "Te Kete Ipurangi - St Patrick's School, Greymouth". Ministry of Education. {{cite web}}: Text "St Patrick's School" ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Education Review Report: John Paul II High School". Education Review Office. August 2007.
  15. ^ "Education Review Report: St Patrick's School Greymouth". Education Review Office. August 2006.


42°27′01″S 171°12′28″E / 42.4502514°S 171.2078905°E / -42.4502514; 171.2078905

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