Kaniere

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 km2. It had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Hokitika Rural statistical area.

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 1.30 km2. 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 km2 and had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 154.38 km2. 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 students as of