West Coast (New Zealand)

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West Coast Region
Geographical location
Southland Otago Canterbury West Coast Nelson Tasman Marlborough Northland Auckland Council Waikato Gisborne Bay of Plenty Hawke’s Bay Taranaki Wellington Manawatu-WanganuiWest Coast in New Zealand.svg
About this picture
Location of the West Coast Region
Photo from West Coast Region
Part West Coast New Zealand.jpg
Part of the west coast of New Zealand's South Island
Local authority
Country New Zealand
island South island
Local authority region
Council The West Coast Regional Council
Headquarters of the administration Greymouth
founding 1989
Telephone code +64 (0) 3
Website www.wcrc.govt.nz
geography
Region ISO NZ-WTC
Coordinates 42 ° 27 ′  S , 171 ° 12 ′  E Coordinates: 42 ° 27 ′  S , 171 ° 12 ′  E
Highest elevation 3497 m
surface 23 244  km 2
Residents 32 148 (2013)
Population density 1.38 inhabitants per km 2
Statistical data
Public revenue NZ $ 10.0 million  (2015)
Public expenditure NZ $ 11.0 million  (2015)
Number of households 16 728 (2013)
Ø income NZ $ 26,900  (2013)
Māori population 9.9% (2013)

The West Coast Region is the fourth largest administrative region in the South Island of New Zealand . The region's council, known as the West Coast Regional Council , is based in Greymouth .

geography

Geographical location

The West Coast Region covers most of the west coast of the South Island with 23,244 km² of pure land and is the longest region in the country with an extension of around 600 km along the coast. With 32,148 inhabitants in 2013, the region has a population density of 1.4 inhabitants per km², making it the region with the lowest population density in the entire country.

The region is characterized by the alpine mountain world of the New Zealand Alps , which stretches from north to south through the entire region and with its foothills partially extend to the coast. Only on some rivers have small plains formed by alluvial land that are used for agriculture. The region is home to a number of national parks, such as in the north part of the Kahurangi National Park , which is the second largest national park in the country. South of Westport is Paparoa National Park , around the glacier areas of Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier of Westland National Park and in the south part of Mount Aspiring National Park .

The largest rivers in the region are the approximately 100 km long Haast River , which crosses the region in the south, the approximately 120 km long Gray River , which flows into the Tasman Sea at Greymouth and the approximately 170 km long Buller River , which runs at Westport in the Tasman Sea flows. The largest cities in the region include Greymouth with almost 6000 inhabitants, Westport with around 4000, Hokitika with around 3000 and Reefton with around 1000 inhabitants.

climate

With prevailing westerly to southwest winds, low foothills bring abundant rainfall throughout the region. Since the alpine region is a weather divide, the clouds rising on the western slopes of the mountains empty on the west side. Far less precipitation can be expected on the east side of the mountains in the Canterbury region . The annual precipitation values ​​reach 8000 mm in the mountains of the west coast, which falls in snow all year round in the high altitudes. Directly on the coast, the amount of precipitation is reduced to around 2000 mm per year. The climate favors the flourishing of the tropical rainforest in the region, for which the west coast is known beyond the national borders.

population

Population development

Of the 32,148 inhabitants of the region in 2013, 3,171 people were of Māori origin (9.9%). This means that 0.5% of the country's Māori population lived in the West Coast region . The median income for the population in 2013 was NZ $ 26,900,  compared to NZ $ 28,500 national average.

Origin and languages

When asked about ethnic group membership in the 2013 census, 91.2% said they were European, 10.5% said they had Māori roots, 1.0% came from the islands of the Pacific and 2.2% % came from Asia (multiple answers were possible). 11.0% of the population said they were born overseas. 1.8% of the population spoke Māori as the second most common language after English, among the Māori it was 11.0%.

politics

administration

The West Coast Region has a board of directors called the West Coast Regional Council , which is led by a chairman . In the Council sit seven elected councilors (council members), which together represent the region. The council members, who choose the chairman from their ranks, are re-elected every three years.

Furthermore, the region is divided into three districts, each with its own council :

While the regional administration is responsible for the inland and coastal waters, for the ports, for land, air, erosion, disaster control, transport planning and regional development, the administrations of the districts are responsible for all other concerns of the citizens and the matters which are in a Local authority must be regulated.

Infrastructure

traffic

In terms of transport, the region is connected by the New Zealand State Highway 6 , which , coming from the northeast of Nelson , leads via Westport and Greymouth down to Haast along the coast. The State Highways 7 and 73 create cross connections through the Alps inland, the State Highways 65 , 67 and 69 cross connections within the region.

Web links

Commons : West Coast Region  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files
Wikivoyage: West Coast (New Zealand)  - travel guide
  • Homepage . West Coast Regional Council,accessed July 16, 2016.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e West Coast Regional Council . In: Local Councils . Department of Internal Affairs , accessed July 16, 2016 .
  2. ↑ a b c d 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : West Coast Region - Population and dwellings . Statistics New Zealand , accessed July 16, 2016 .
  3. ↑ About our Region . West Coast Regional Council , September 8, 2015, accessed July 16, 2016 .
  4. ↑ National Parks . Department of Conservation , accessed July 16, 2016 .
  5. ↑ a b Topo250 maps . Land Information New Zealand , accessed July 16, 2016 .
  6. ^ Climate and Air Quality . West Coast Regional Council , September 8, 2015, accessed July 16, 2016 .
  7. ↑ 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : West Coast Region - Cultural diversity . Statistics New Zealand , accessed July 16, 2016 .
  8. ^ Councilors . West Coast Regional Council , September 8, 2015, accessed July 16, 2016 .
  9. ↑ Glossary . In: Local Councils . Department of Internal Affairs , accessed July 16, 2016 .