Waimumu is a rural settlement town in the Gore District and Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located west of Gore, about 14 kilometres from the main township.^[1]

The settlement hosts the Southern Field Days, a biennial agricultural trade show.^[1] It is held across a 57-hectare (140-acre) site, attracting about 700 exhibitors and 40,000 attendees.^[2]

History

Europeans began farming either side of the Waimumu Stream in the 19th century. By 1901, the Waimumu Hundreds settlement had 608 people, and a public school with 21 students which held Presbyterian church services every month.^[3]

Gold was also discovered by boring, leading to the establishment of a steady gold-dredging industry. By 1906, some farming paddocks had been completely destroyed through gold dredging.^[3]

The Southern Field Days began in 1982, on a local farm, with 60 exhibitors.^[2]

In 2002, the New Zealand Government provided funding to the protect the unlogged area of the Māori-owned Hokonui-Waimumu block.^[4] In 2005, the Waimumu Trust, which administers the land, unsuccessfully challenged a ban on exporting timber from the forest through the Waitangi Tribunal.^[5]

Demographics

Waimumu-Kaiwera statistical area covers 647.74 km² (250.09 sq mi).^[6] It surrounds but does not include Mataura and borders Gore on the west, south and east. It had an estimated population of 1,640 as of June 2022,^[7] with a population density of 2.5 people per km².

Waimumu-Kaiwera had a population of 1,302 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (1.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 69 people (5.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 474 households. There were 693 males and 609 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.14 males per female. The median age was 41.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 288 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 213 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 633 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 168 (12.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.6% European/Pākehā, 5.5% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 1.8% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 7.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 38.9% had no religion, 51.6% were Christian and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (14.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 231 (22.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 213 people (21.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 621 (61.2%) people were employed full-time, 198 (19.5%) were part-time, and 12 (1.2%) were unemployed.^[8]

Education

Waimumu School operated from 1888 to 1996.^[9]

References