Grey District
| Grey District | |
|---|---|
| Territorial authority | |
 |
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | West Coast Regional Council |
| District | Grey District Council |
| Seat | Greymouth |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Tony Kokshoorn |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,516.48 km2 (1,357.72 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2016) | |
| • Total | 13,550 |
| • Density | 3.9/km2 (10.0/sq mi) |
| Time zone | NZST (UTC+12) |
| • Summer (DST) | NZDT (UTC+13) |
| Postcode(s) | Map of postcodes |
| Area code(s) | 03 |
| Website | greydc.govt.nz |
Grey District in the West Coast Region of New Zealand is a municipality that covers Greymouth, Runanga, Blackball, Cobden and settlements along the Grey River. It has a land area of 3,516.48 square kilometres (1,357.72 sq mi). The seat of the Grey District Council, the local government authority that administers the district, is at Greymouth, where 27% of the district's population live.
The Grey District is on the West Coast of the South Island. It stretches from the south banks of the Punakaiki River in the north, southeast to Mt Anderson, north to The Pinacle, southeast to Craigeburn, in a southeast direction to Mt Barron, southwest to Jacksons and following the Taramakau River to the Tasman Sea.
The district is rich in history and character. Key industries are tourism, mining, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and services industries. The main hospital for the West Coast is in Greymouth.
The district had a population of 13,221 at the 2006 census, of whom 8% are Maori. Of the total population, 3600 live in Greymouth, 1221 in Runanga, 1707 in Cobden and 330 in Blackball. With around 95% of its inhabitants being of European descent (2001 Census), the Grey District has a very homogeneous ethnic composition. Forty per cent of the population had no educational qualifications in 2001, compared with around 27% in New Zealand as a whole. It now has a population of 13,550 (June 2016).
There are 619 km of road in the district, of which 358 km are sealed (2000s data).
The first buildings at the Grey River mouth were constructed by Ngati Wairangi Maori at Cobden. European settlement followed the discovery of coal and gold.
Greymouth, the district’s largest centre, lies beside the Tasman Sea and the Grey River. Greymouth experienced a rapid change in the cultural makeup of the region, reflecting an influx of migrants drawn to the gold rush, mining and related business opportunities.
As Greymouth developed, it became vulnerable to flooding. After two major floods in 1988, the Greymouth flood wall project was undertaken. Completed in 1990, the flood wall provides security for the town, and has allowed commerce to develop further.
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Wikipedia