Kumara, New Zealand Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Kumara
Sign beside SH 73 on the outskirts of Kumara
Country	New Zealand
Region	West Coast
District	Westland District
Ward	Northern
Electorates	West Coast-Tasman Te Tai Tonga
Population (2018 Census)
• Total	285
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode	7832
Area code(s)	03
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Theatre Royal Hotel

Kumara is a town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Greymouth, close to the western end of State Highway 73, which leads across Arthur's Pass to Christchurch. The Taramakau River flows past to the north.

The population was 285 in the 2018 census, a decrease of 24 (7.76%) from 2013.

The name may come from the Māori language Kohe mara, which is the blossom of the tātarāmoa, or bush lawyer.

The Coast to Coast annual multisport race starts at Kumara Beach.

History
Demographics
Education
Notable buildings
- Bank of New Zealand
- St Patrick's Catholic Church
Images for kids
See also

History

Kumara was founded and became one of the country's chief gold mining centres following the discovery of gold at Dillmanstown, about 3 kilometres (2 mi) to the south-east, in 1876. The tramline from Greymouth to Paroa was extended to Kumara the following year. The population was 4,220 in October 1877. The town became a borough in 1877. Kumara Hospital was operating by 1881 and continued into the twentieth century. In 1882, the Kumara volunteer fire brigade was formed.

Kumara was the home town of prominent politician Richard Seddon, who was elected mayor of the town in 1877, and served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1893 until his death in 1906.

In 1925, the manager of Pearns Hotel in Kumara was charged by police after she refused to supply accommodation to two visiting temperance lecturers. The Pearn's Brewery became part of Westland Ales around this time.

Although the town once had 50 pubs, the numbers dwindled. In June 2009, the last remaining pub, the Empire Hotel, had its licence cancelled by the Liquor Licensing Authority. In 2010, the last store of the town faced closure, with only a few hundred inhabitants left, but it was hoped that one of the New Zealand Cycle Trails to run through the town would lift the settlement's fortunes again. In November 2012 the Theatre Royal Hotel reopened as the only pub serving Kumara, and in November 2013 the West Coast Wilderness Trail cycleway running from Greymouth to Ross was officially opened with a ceremony in Kumara.

Demographics

The population of Kumara was 285 in the 2018 census, a decrease of 24 from 2013. There were 141 males and 141 females. 92.6% of people identified as European/Pākehā, 11.6% as Māori, 2.1% as Pacific peoples and 3.2% as Asian. 13.7% were under 15 years old, 10.5% were 15–29, 56.8% were 30–64, and 20.0% were 65 or older.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	954	—
2013	1,167	+2.92%
2018	1,233	+1.11%

The statistical area of Arahura-Kumara, which at 262 square kilometres (101 sq mi) is much larger than this town, had a population of 1,233 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 66 people (5.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 279 people (29.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 522 households. There were 639 males and 591 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 49.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 183 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 132 (10.7%) aged 15 to 29, 705 (57.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (17.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.1% European/Pākehā, 13.6% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 3.2% Asian, and 3.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 12.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 49.9% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 147 (14.0%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 249 (23.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 546 (52.0%) people were employed full-time, 171 (16.3%) were part-time, and 24 (2.3%) were unemployed.

Education

Kumara School

Kumara School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8), with a roll of 37 as of April 2023. The school celebrated 120 years of education in the district in 1997.