Runanga
Carroll Street
Carroll Street
Coordinates: 42°24′2″S 171°15′5″E / 42.40056°S 171.25139°E / -42.40056; 171.25139
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictGrey District
WardNorthern
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityGrey District Council
 • Regional councilWest Coast Regional Council
 • Mayor of GreyTania Gibson
 • West Coast-Tasman MPMaureen Pugh
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total4.51 km2 (1.74 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total1,230
 • Density270/km2 (710/sq mi)
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Runanga is a small town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located eight kilometres to the northeast of Greymouth, to the north of the Grey River. Barrytown is 21 kilometres (13 mi) further north. State Highway 6 and the Rapahoe Branch railway run through the town.[3][4] Runanga was formerly a railway junction, with the steep Rewanui Branch diverging from the Rapahoe line until closure in 1985.

The town's origins can be traced back to European colonisation in the late 19th century, when large numbers of settlers came to work the local coal fields. The town's name is Māori for "meeting place".[5] Coal mining is still the main employer of the town.

History

During the period 1853 to 1876, the area which became the township of Runanga was administrated as part of the Nelson Province.

Unlike many towns and settlements on the West Coast which grew up around gold mining, Runanga was established as a centre to support the local coal mining industry. In 1902 the Seddon Government established its own coal mines, proclaiming the whole area on the north side of the Grey River as a State Coal Reserve. The Point Elizabeth No. 1 mine began producing coal from 17 March 1904. In 1903 a sawmill opened and timber houses began to replace the tents which had formed housing until then. The Borough of Runanga came into effect in 1912 with an area of 1,210 acres and a population of about 1,500.[6]

Demographics

Runanga statistical area, which includes Dunollie and Rapahoe, covers 4.51 km2 (1.74 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 1,230 as of June 2023,[7] with a population density of 273 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,233—    
20131,248+0.17%
20181,185−1.03%
Source: [8]
Coal mining in Runanga in the early 20th century

Runanga had a population of 1,185 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 63 people (−5.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 48 people (−3.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 519 households, comprising 621 males and 567 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 45.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 201 people (17.0%) aged under 15 years, 204 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 564 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 213 (18.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.9% European/Pākehā, 11.9% Māori, 0.8% Pasifika, 1.8% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 6.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.5% had no religion, 26.3% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (4.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 342 (34.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 75 people (7.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 423 (43.0%) people were employed full-time, 162 (16.5%) were part-time, and 54 (5.5%) were unemployed.[8]

Community

As with most other towns, Runanga had its fair share of clubs and societies. One such organisation that no longer exists in Runanga, and which few may remember, is the Runanga Lodge No 74 of the Royal Antedilluvian Order of Buffaloe's. This Lodge was opened on May 13, 1939, by the Provincial Grand Primo Bro. James Insull K.O.M. The founders of the lodge were Bro. C Ingram C.P. and Bro. T Durkin C.P.

The Foundation members were R McMillan, H Fisher, J Musgrove, J O'Connel, W.T. Foster, F Crange, R McTaggart, Owen O'Connell, G.W. Timlin, A.W. Fisher, W Amor, J Stephens, D Butler, S H Werner, J O'Neil and R Scott.

In April 1943, The Lodge held their first meeting in their own Hall. They had been meeting in rented accommodation up until then.

Miners' Hall

The Miners' Hall in 2009

The Runanga Miners' Hall is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I structure, with registration number 9613.[9] It is significant because of its place in the history of the union movement in New Zealand and because it is one of the few remaining examples of a miners' hall.[10] A $1.1 million project to strengthen the Miner's Hall was announced in 2020.[11]

Coal Creek Waterfall

Coal Creek Waterfall (2021)

The Coal Creek waterfall is accessed via the Coal Creek walking track which starts in Runanga. The track is a gentle 3.6 kilometres return and travels along Coal Creek through beech trees and other podocarps.[12] The waterfalls are the width of the river and seven metres high.[13]

Notable people

  • Moses Ayrton, New Zealand politician
  • George Duggan (1912–2012) was a New Zealand Marist priest, philosopher, seminary professor and writer (he was popularly known as Chalky Duggan – after a featherweight boxer who fought in 1919, when Duggan was 7 years old, under the name "Chalky Duggan" and who, like Duggan, came from Runanga.
  • Dave McKenzie (born 1943 in Dunollie, Grey District) is a former long-distance runner. He represented New Zealand in the men's marathon at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in Mexico City (1968). He won the Boston Marathon in 1967.
  • George Menzies, who in 2008 was named the greatest rugby league five-eighth New Zealand had ever produced spent his playing career at Runanga's club.
  • James O'Brien, Labour MP for Westland 1922–25 and 1928–1947 and Minister of Transport and Marine during the First Labour Government, lived and worked in Runanga from 1906 for about ten years.[14]
  • Bob Semple, Minister of Public Works in the First Labour Government, was President of the Runanga Miner's Union in 1907.[15]
  • Paddy Webb, Minister of Mines in the First Labour Government, worked in the Runanga mine about 1906.[16]
  • Frank O'Flynn, Minister of Defence in the Fourth Labour Government, was born in Runanga in 1918.[17]

Education

Runanga School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8), with a roll of 43 students as of April 2023.[18][19]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ↑ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 69. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  4. ↑ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 148. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  5. ↑ "Runanga". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  6. ↑ Ewen, Jack, ed. (1986). Runanga Borough Council 75th Anniversary 1912 to 1987. Grey District Library, West Coast Collection: Runanga Borough Council.
  7. ↑ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Runanga (310000). 2018 Census place summary: Runanga
  9. ↑ "Miners' Hall, Runanga". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Signposts – a blog about Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Blog Archive. The history of the Rūnanga Miners' Hall". Te Ara Signposts. 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  11. ↑ McMahon, Brendan (7 January 2020). "Runanga Miners' Hall strengthening to start". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Coal Creek Track". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Coal Creek Falls". waterfalls.co.nz. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "O'Brien, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
  15. ↑ "SEMPLE, Hon. Robert". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  16. ↑ "Webb, Patrick Charles". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
  17. ↑ Haines, Leah (18 October 2003). "Man of peace, legal eagle Frank O'Flynn dies". The Dominion Post. p. 2.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  19. ↑ Education Counts: Runanga School
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