Greymouth
Māwhera (Māori)
2009 panorama
2009 panorama
Coordinates: 42°27′00″S 171°12′27″E / 42.45000°S 171.20750°E / -42.45000; 171.20750
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictGrey District
WardCentral
Named forSir George Grey, governor of New Zealand
Government
 • MPMaureen Pugh (National)
 • MayorTania Gibson
Population
 (June 2023)[1]
 • Total8,340
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
7805
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Greymouth (/ˈɡreɪmaʊθ/) (Māori: Māwhera) is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is 14,250, which accounts for 43% of the West Coast's inhabitants. The Greymouth urban area had an estimated population of 8,340 (June 2023).[1] A large proportion of the District, 65%,[2] is part of the Conservation Estate owned and managed by the Department of Conservation making Greymouth a natural centre for walkers and trampers.

Location

Aoraki / Mount Cook and other mountains from Greymouth's beach

The town is located at the mouth of the Grey River, on a narrow coastal plain close to the foot of the Southern Alps. In clear weather, Aoraki / Mount Cook can be clearly seen to the south from near the town. The mouth of the river divides the town into three areas: Blaketown, close to the river's mouth on the south bank; Karoro, to the southeast, separated from Blaketown by a series of small estuarine lagoons; and Cobden, formerly a separate town, on the river's north bank.

Greymouth is on State Highway 6, which connects it with Hokitika in the south and Westport in the north. It also stands at the terminus of State Highway 7, which runs through Dobson and Reefton, eventually reaching North Canterbury and its junction with State Highway 1 at Waipara, 55 km (34 mi) north of Christchurch, via Lewis Pass. Highway 73 is accessed 20 km (12 mi) south of Greymouth, which is the most direct route to or from Christchurch. The town is also the western terminus of the Midland line from Christchurch. Large coal trains often operate from Greymouth on this line to Christchurch. The famous TranzAlpine train also terminates at Greymouth. The Greymouth Airport is only 1.9 km (1.2 mi) south of the centre of the town.

Climate

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as oceanic (Cfb).[3] The mean annual rainfall Greymouth receives is high by New Zealand standards and is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year.[4] This is due to its position receiving marine westerlies throughout the year that often do not rise above the Southern Alps. As a result, it creates a rain shadow effect that sees east coast locations having far sunnier and warmer summers. This extreme marine influence also shelters the Greymouth area from hot summer days and cold winter nights. Snow is rare, with the last reported event occurring on 4 August 2019.[5]

Climate data for Greymouth Airport (1947–2022, Humidity 1972–2015)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 30.9
(87.6)		 29.8
(85.6)		 27.7
(81.9)		 25.0
(77.0)		 23.8
(74.8)		 18.0
(64.4)		 18.1
(64.6)		 19.3
(66.7)		 22.3
(72.1)		 23.2
(73.8)		 26.5
(79.7)		 28.8
(83.8)		 30.9
(87.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 19.7
(67.5)		 19.9
(67.8)		 18.9
(66.0)		 16.8
(62.2)		 14.5
(58.1)		 12.4
(54.3)		 11.9
(53.4)		 12.8
(55.0)		 14.1
(57.4)		 15.1
(59.2)		 16.5
(61.7)		 18.4
(65.1)		 15.9
(60.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.1
(61.0)		 16.3
(61.3)		 15.2
(59.4)		 13.1
(55.6)		 10.9
(51.6)		 8.8
(47.8)		 8.1
(46.6)		 9.0
(48.2)		 10.4
(50.7)		 11.7
(53.1)		 13.1
(55.6)		 14.9
(58.8)		 12.3
(54.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.5
(54.5)		 12.7
(54.9)		 11.5
(52.7)		 9.5
(49.1)		 7.3
(45.1)		 5.2
(41.4)		 4.3
(39.7)		 5.2
(41.4)		 6.8
(44.2)		 8.3
(46.9)		 9.7
(49.5)		 11.5
(52.7)		 8.7
(47.7)
Record low °C (°F) 3.8
(38.8)		 1.5
(34.7)		 0.1
(32.2)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 1.0
(33.8)		 2.9
(37.2)		 −2.5
(27.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 202.3
(7.96)		 161.5
(6.36)		 188.6
(7.43)		 209.5
(8.25)		 220.7
(8.69)		 218.0
(8.58)		 193.6
(7.62)		 191.6
(7.54)		 197.3
(7.77)		 225.1
(8.86)		 210.1
(8.27)		 225.6
(8.88)		 2,442.5
(96.16)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12.5 10.8 12.6 13.7 15.4 14.6 13.9 15.0 15.9 17.4 15.5 15.0 171.4
Average relative humidity (%) (at 9am) 82.5 84.4 84.4 84.8 85.5 84.3 83.5 82.0 82.1 82.1 81.2 82.1 83.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 196.7 173.2 157.6 131.4 104.5 89.6 107.9 130.3 135.8 147.7 164.1 173.8 1,719.1
Source: CliFlo[6][7]

On 10 March 2005, a major tornado, which started as a waterspout, made landfall in the suburb of Blaketown. It quickly moved through the town passing just south of the main town centre. The tornado was one of the largest reported in recent history in the West Coast region, caused millions of dollars in damage, and injured several people.[8] Previous tornadoes which had struck Greymouth on 16 June 2003 and 28 March 2001 had destroyed several buildings.[8]

The Barber

Fog being pushed down the Grey Valley by the Barber

A katabatic wind blows down the Grey Valley and is known locally as the Barber, which can be seen as well as felt because a mist accompanies the cold wind.[9] In the early twentieth century the Barber was also known as the "gorge wind".[10] It was reported that there were changes to the direction, severity and coldness of the wind in that era and this change was attributed to the felling of trees on the Coast Road leading north towards the new settlements of Dunollie and Seven Mile.[10] Greymouth businesses would often advertise the benefits of their products, especially clothing to ward off the chill of the Barber.[11]

Flooding

1905 Greymouth Flood

A combination of high intensity rainfall, high topographic relief and short steep rivers often leads to rapid flooding of low-lying land across the West Coast.[12] Since its founding Greymouth has experienced two dozen floods by the Grey River, with many of the most significant being assigned names: for example, the Great Flood (1872), the Jubilee Flood (1887), the Big Flood (1905), The Biggest Since 1887 (1936), The Biggest Since 1936 (1977), The Big One (May 1988) and The Biggest (September 1988).[13] After the two floods in 1988 the mayor of Greymouth, Barry Dallas, organised the construction of a flood protection wall. Rising 2 m above the level of the railway embankment and riverside wharf, it was completed in September 1990 at a cost of NZ$4m. Since its completion Greymouth has not suffered a significant flood, although the river has come close to the top of the flood wall several times.[14]

Local walks

With 65% of the Grey District forming part of the Conservation Estate, there are many local walks to enjoy.

Coal Creek Track

Coal Creek Falls

The path gently descends down to the Coal Creek valley though a mixed beech-podocarp forest. The walk is approximately 3.6 km return and is accessed 8 km northeast of Greymouth at Runanga.[15]

King Domain Walk

This is a zigzag uphill track taking in four lookouts across Greymouth and the Grey Valley. The first lookout shows the Greymouth town centre and the Grey River. The second lookout provides a view of central Greymouth from a greater elevation. The third lookout at a rock outcrop gives a view of Cobden and the final lookout provides a panorama of the lower Grey Valley.[16]

Kōwhai Bush Walk

Located off Turumaha Street next to Anzac Park, this short loop walk takes you through the Kōwhai Forrest, half of which is bounded by the mudflats of Blaketown Lagoon. There are some boardwalks which follow through estuarine vegetation.[16]

Omotomotu Bush Walk

This walk is located in the only substantial forest area close to Greymouth. It is located on Marsden Road and is a 25 minute loop track. Halfway along the track is a deviation to a lookout point with views of regenerating forest.[16]

Point Elizabeth Walkway

View from Point Elizabeth Walkway

This walk is accessed via North Beach Road, Cobden or Seven Mile Road, Rapahoe and is 5.5 km one way. It is a well-formed walk through coastal bush with stunning cliff top views.[17]

Woods Creek Walk

This forest track passes by tailraces and dams and through tunnels built by gold miners in the 19th century and is a 1.1 km loop track. It is approximately 30 km southeast of Greymouth.[18]

History

Grey River / Māwheranui

Polynesian settlement

Archaeological evidence shows Māori settlements on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island dating back to 1300–1400 AD. Located at Karamea, Westport (Kawatiri), Bruce Bay (Mahitahi) and Jackson Bay (Okahu), excavations have identified in-ground cooking ovens (hāngī) and middens (rubbish tips). They show that these early Māori ate moa and seals as well as fish from the river and sea. These earliest West Coast people were from east Polynesia. Their stone knives and adzes were made by using the Polynesian flaking method and personal ornaments found on the sites were based on traditional Polynesian shark-tooth designs. These early people were subsumed by later Māori tribes (iwi) who came to the West Coast as population grew and settlement spread.[19]

Ngāi Tahu on Te Tai Poutini

Ngāi Tahu came to Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast) about the start of the nineteenth century. Under Tūhuru Kōkare, a great warrior, they defeated the Ngāti Wairangi in a series of battles for the greenstone (pounamu) coast. The West Coast was one of the principal sources of the highly-prized greenstone which is almost as hard as steel. The Poutini Ngāi Tahu built fortified pā at Māwhera (Greymouth), Ōkārito and Mahitahi (Bruce Bay) and had villages or gardens at other places including Inangahua, Taramakau, Mahinapua, Pouerua, Okuru and Arawhata (Jackson Bay).[19] The name Māwhera (meaning 'wide spread river mouth',[20] is still an alternative name for the Grey River.

European settlement

The first Europeans to visit the site of what is now Greymouth were Thomas Brunner and Charles Heaphy in 1846. Brunner and Heaphy were detailed by the Nelson Land Company to investigate the country south of the Buller and to report on its resources and potential as a field for further settlement. They set out from Nelson on 17 March 1846 accompanied by a Māori named Kehu, who had previously visited the West Coast and who had agreed to act as their guide.[21] Brunner discovered coal in the Grey Valley, and several places in the region (notably the town of Brunner and Lake Brunner) bear his name. Brunner himself named the Grey River after Sir George Grey, Governor of New Zealand.[22]

As numbers of colonists continued to increase in Nelson and Canterbury, interest grew in settling the West Coast, but the land was still owned by Māori – Poutini Ngāi Tahu. In 1857 Poutini Ngāi Tahu chiefs wrote to Donald McLean, the New Zealand government land purchase officer, offering to sell the land for £2500, as long as some land was reserved for their use and they kept their rights to the pounamu (greenstone) of the Arahura River.[23] In 1859, James Mackay was sent to broker a purchase deal, known as the Arahura Deed. This was signed in Māwhera by leading chiefs on 21 May 1860: it sold the entire West Coast to the Crown for just £300 (equivalent to NZ$38,060 in 2021), apart from a scattering of reserves totalling 4,000 ha (40 km2).[24] (Just after the signing, Mackay capsized his canoe in the Grey River, and some of the writing in the document is smudged to this day.)[24] The reserves included Māwhera, now the centre of Greymouth.

On 22 July 1864 the Nelson became the first steamer to cross the Grey bar and steam up the Grey River.[25] Aboard the 'Nelson' were Matthew Batty and Reuben Waite plus approximately 70 prospectors.[25] Reuben Waite would open the first store in Greymouth on the banks of the Grey River at the corner of which is now Waite Street and Mawhera Quay.[26] Matthew Batty would become the first European coal miner on the Grey River overseeing a group of Māori digging up the Brunner Seam on the Grey River bank.[26]

John Rochfort undertook the original survey of the site of the township in 1865.[27][28] Greymouth was proclaimed a borough on 16 July 1868, and on 26 August 1868 an election was held. On 16 September 1868, the new borough council held its first meeting and unanimously elected Edward Masters as the first mayor of Greymouth.[29]

Greymouth in 1924

From 1853 until the abolition of provinces in 1876, Greymouth was first part of Canterbury Province (the West Coast part of the Province was known as West Canterbury) and then part of an independent Westland Province. However Cobden, on the north (or right) bank of the Grey River was a part of Nelson Province from 1853 to 1876. The boundary between the Canterbury and Nelson provinces had been set as a straight line from the head of the Hurunui River to Lake Brunner at a time when the area was virtually uninhabited, but the West Coast Gold Rush straddled that boundary, with a population boom also straddling the boundary.[30] In 1866, there had been a proposal for portions of Canterbury Province, including the urban area of Greymouth and the rural area south, to be annexed and solely administered by Nelson Province.[31] The situation for the citizens of the area was partially alleviated with the creation of the County of Westland – which had all the administrative powers of a provincial council, but saw the legislative powers remain with Parliament in Wellington. Members of Parliament were not happy with having to spend their time on local legislation, and in 1873 the government elevated the county to full provincial status as Westland Province.

Shipwrecks on the Greymouth Bar

Shipwreck of the Abel Tasman, Cobden Beach, Greymouth

The Greymouth Bar is a sandbar at the mouth of the Grey River. It is notorious in New Zealand and more than 44 ships have been wrecked there while entering, leaving or mooring in the harbour.[32] The first shipwreck happened on 13 September 1863 when the schooner Gipsy carrying mostly gold diggers from Sydney, was caught in a northeasterly gale.[32] Sixteen lives have been lost since 1865, when the Nugget drifted out of the river and across the bar at night.[32] The cutter was half full of water when the crew came on deck and only one of the two crewmen made it safely to shore.[32]

The year 1866 was the most dangerous year for shipping in Greymouth, with five schooners and screw steamers being wrecked due to a number of reasons, including getting stranded on the spit, sheered in current, insufficient tug power and the engine stopped.[32]

On 23 June 1910 the Lauderdale was heading to Greymouth from Nydia Bay and on 27 June struck the north tiphead, ending up stranded on the Blaketown beach after, at one point, being grounded against another shipwreck from 1908, the Hawea.[33][34] The Lauderdale is one of three wrecks which remain on the Greymouth coastline in the twenty-first century and in April 2016 a local Blaketown family unveiled a commemorative plaque on the West Coast Cycle Trail, telling its story. This plaque is within sight of the wreck remains which appear and disappear on the shoreline with the tides.[35] The Abel Tasman and the Hawea are the other two remaining wrecks.[35]

Demographics

Greymouth covers 27.45 km2 (10.60 sq mi)[36] and had an estimated population of 8,340 as of June 2023,[1] with a population density of 304 people per km2.

Historical population for Greymouth town
YearPop.±% p.a.
199110,059—    
199610,254+0.38%
20019,528−1.46%
20068,229−2.89%
20138,118−0.19%
20187,962−0.39%
Source: [37][38]

Greymouth had a population of 7,962 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 156 people (−1.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 267 people (−3.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,345 households, comprising 3,933 males and 4,038 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 1,398 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 1,356 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 3,573 (44.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,641 (20.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.9% European/Pākehā, 10.6% Māori, 1.5% Pasifika, 3.8% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.3% had no religion, 37.5% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 765 (11.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,839 (28.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 876 people (13.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,144 (47.9%) people were employed full-time, 1,023 (15.6%) were part-time, and 198 (3.0%) were unemployed.[38]

Individual statistical areas
NameArea
(km2)		PopulationDensity
(per km2)		HouseholdsMedian ageMedian
income
Cobden3.681,55142166640.5 years$21,900[39]
Blaketown0.748101,09537542.2 years$27,000[40]
Greymouth Central2.7397835840252.7 years$23,900[41]
King Park0.841,0531,25448645.1 years$24,800[42]
Marsden1.241,22198549538.6 years$34,400[43]
Karoro6.501,01715640847.1 years$37,000[44]
Rutherglen-Camerons11.721,33211451346.5 years$37,500[45]
New Zealand37.4 years$31,800

Rural area

Greymouth Rural statistical area, which stretches between Greymouth and Lake Brunner, covers 340.00 km2 (131.27 sq mi).[36] It had an estimated population of 780 as of June 2022,[46] with a population density of 2.3 people per km2.

Historical population for Greymouth Rural
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006564—    
2013663+2.34%
2018693+0.89%
Source: [47]

Greymouth Rural had a population of 693 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (4.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 129 people (22.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 285 households, comprising 363 males and 330 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 47.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 114 people (16.5%) aged under 15 years, 105 (15.2%) aged 15 to 29, 369 (53.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (15.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.4% European/Pākehā, 10.4% Māori, 0.4% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.3% had no religion, 30.7% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 69 (11.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 144 (24.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 93 people (16.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 315 (54.4%) people were employed full-time, 90 (15.5%) were part-time, and 21 (3.6%) were unemployed.[47]

Economy

Greymouth was founded during the West Coast gold rush of the 1860s, but for 150 years after this its economy was based on coal mining and native timber forestry. These brought prosperity to the town which at one point had 47 hotels (today it has only six).[48] In 2020 most of the coal mines have now closed yet at there were once ten coal mines in the Brunner Field. Brunner (1861–1935), Tyneside (1876–1954), Wallsend (1894–1932), Coal Pit Heath (1877–1893), Coolgardie (1894–1932), Pig and Whistle (1900–1944), South Brunner (1906–1907), St Kilda (1907–1921), North Brunner (1908–1920), Dobson (1920–1968).[49] The 10 mines produced over 8 million tonnes of coal.[49] The coal reserves in the district including - measured, indicated, and inferred total 164 million tonnes.[29] Fishing has long been important to the town, despite the fact that the entrance to the Grey River has two notoriously dangerous sandbars; an inner and outer bar.[50]

Beginning in the 1960s, forestry and coal mining began to decline on the West Coast. The planned opening of the Pike River Mine in early 2008 spurred new investments in upgrading port facilities at the town.[51] The opening of the new mine, as well as the planned Spring Creek mine, was called the biggest investment happening in the area for a hundred years; coal barges travelling to and from reshipment facilities in Taranaki would have carried containerised cargo to the town and saved the port from closure.[52] On 19 November 2010, there was an explosion at the Pike River Mine, trapping 29 miners.[53] Attempts to rescue the trapped miners were repeatedly delayed due to high levels of methane gas, until a second explosion on 24 November dashed all hope of survival for the miners.[54] Pike River Coal went into receivership in the wake of the disaster and was purchased by Solid Energy, which closed the Spring Creek Mine in 2012 with the loss of 220 jobs and went into voluntary administration in August 2015.

After the decline in coal mining and forestry, the West Coast economy has become increasingly dependent on ecotourism. Thousands of coal mining jobs had declined to just 60, and hundreds of tourism jobs had replaced them.[48] During Greymouth's boom years, much of the centre of town was built up in brick Art Deco building on leased land in the Mawhera Reserve. This land was administered for many years by the Department of Maori Affairs, but was returned to the control of the iwi in 1976. At that time Mawhera Inc's total assets were worth $2m, but had grown to $123m by 2018. Mawhera Inc is now the town's largest landlord, with 1600 shareholders.[48] After regulations were tightened following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, many of Greymouth's heritage buildings were found to be unsafe, and the combination of earthquake-strengthening costs and being on lease land makes many of them uneconomic to restore and occupy.[48]

Greymouth is also known for its pounamu ("greenstone", a form of jade) carving industry which goes back to Māori origins. The town's local brewery, Monteith's, has produced beer since 1868 which is now sold nationwide.[22]

Education

Greymouth has several state primary schools offering education up to year 8, and Greymouth High School and John Paul II High School providing secondary education. There are also state-integrated Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic has its head office based in Greymouth. It also has campuses in Auckland, Christchurch, Hokitika, Reefton, Wanaka and Westport.

Arts and culture

Left Bank Art Gallery, interior

Founded in 1992, the Left Bank Art Gallery in Greymouth is located in the former Bank of New Zealand building on the left bank of the Grey River. It is operated by the West Coast Society of the Arts and exhibits the works of artists from Karamea to Haast and holds the National Pounamu Collection.

Art in the Park

In 2007 the first Art in the Park event was organised in Greymouth at Dixon Park by Linda and Ashley Morley, South Africans living in New Zealand. They brought the concept from South Africa.[55] In 2008 inclement weather meant the organisers sought an alternative venue that was more sheltered from rain. The 2009 Art in the Park was held at Shantytown, and remained there for a couple of years before locating to the Greymouth High School gymnasium.

Greymouth Operatic Society

In 1944 the Greymouth Operatic Society was formalised, following a number of successful patriotic reviews and concerts during the war years. The first production in 1945 was "The Country Girl" with Beverley Patterson in the lead role of 'Marjorie Joy'.[56] In 2021 the Greymouth Operatic Society is a thriving operation, providing the opportunity for local performers, musician and stage crews to learn all things theatre. The aim of the Society is to support, educate, and nurture local talent.[57]

Suburbs

  • Inner suburbs:
    • Southern Breakwater in Blaketown
      Cobden – reflects the English origins and political awareness of its founders. Many of the streets are named for English political rebels and reformers of their times. Richard Cobden (1804–1865) was a radical politician involved in repealing the Corn Laws, emancipating the worker and encouraging free trade. Some of his contemporaries such as John Bright and Edward Cardwell also have streets named after them. Other more recent streets honour some of Cobden's significant citizens.[58]
    • Greymouth Central – Māwhera to Māori but renamed 'Grey' to honour the then Governor of New Zealand Sir George Grey. The earliest street names honour pioneer residents, explorers and prominent local Māori, while others pay tribute to English literary figures and politicians. Later developments recognise the achievements of local residents who contributed significantly to civic and local body affairs.[58]
    • Blaketown – named for its founder, Isaac Blake who, according to his contemporaries, although unable to read was a wily and ambitious character. He came as a gold prospector but soon saw that there was more money to be made as a trader and storekeeper. In its early days, Blaketown was bigger than Greymouth. Blaketown shows the influence of early politicians in its street names.[58]
    • Wharemoa
    • Karoro - the meaning in Māori is 'blacked-backed gull' or 'seagull'. The streets of Karoro, which are mostly the result of more recent subdivision, reflect the names of developers or landowners in the area. Some are named for geographic features and native trees.[58]
  • Outer suburbs:
    • South Beach
    • Paroa – the meaning in Māori is 'long fortified village'. The area around the Saltwater Creek was so named in 1866 when upwards of two thousand men were prospecting in the area. The streets of Paroa are mostly named for prominent citizens and landowners.[58]
    • Rutherglen
    • Gladstone
    • Camerons

Notable people

Notable buildings

  • Bank of New Zealand (1 Tainui Street), now home of the Leftbank Art Gallery
  • Revington's Hotel (45–49 Tainui Street), now demolished
  • Grey Harbour Board building (1884)
  • Regent Theatre (1937)
  • The Greymouth Railway Station is included in an historic precinct, which also incorporates the signal box, the former Government buildings, former State Insurance office.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  2. ↑ "Te Tai o Poutini Plan Committee Meeting 30 July 2020" (PDF). 2020. p. 29. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Climate: Greymouth – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Western South Island". www.niwa.co.nz. 28 February 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Harris, Dominic (4 August 2019). "Short-lived snow flurries will live long in the memory for Coasters". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  6. ↑ "CliFlo – National Climate Database". NIWA. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  7. ↑ @extremetemps (8 February 2022). "Historic warm spell in New Zealand starts with a boom ! New all time heat records were set in the West Coast of Sou…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. 1 2 "Widespread damage after Greymouth tornado". The New Zealand Herald. 10 March 2005. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Barber". Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  10. 1 2 ""Old residents of Greymouth aver"". Greymouth Evening Star. 23 July 1917.
  11. ↑ ""Pure underwear comfort" advertisement". Greymouth Evening Star. 23 May 1913. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  12. ↑ Benn, J.L. (1990). A chronology of flooding on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand 1846–1990. Greymouth: West Coast Regional Council. p. 1. ISBN 0-908885-00-8.
  13. ↑ Kerridge, Peter, ed. (1993). Glimpses of Greymouth and District. Greymouth: The 125th Jubilee Committee of the Grey District Council. p. 81. ISBN 0-473-02367-9.
  14. ↑ Crean, Mike (31 January 2009). "A mayor with a big flood idea". Stuff. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "Coal Creek Track Greymouth area". Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 "Walks". Grey District Council. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Greymouth walks". West Coast New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Woods Creek Track Greymouth area". Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  19. 1 2 Rosanowski, John (2012). A history of the West Coast of the Southern Alps. Christchurch: Cornwall Publications. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-473-21887-4.
  20. ↑ Greymouth Archived 6 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine (from Tourism New Zealand, the official New Zealand tourism agency)
  21. ↑ Lord, E.I. (1928). Greymouth District Diamond Jubilee 1868–1928. Andrews Baty & Company. p. 17.
  22. 1 2 Greymouth / Blackball Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine (from the Tourism West Coast website)
  23. ↑ Nathan, Simon (1 September 2016). "Letter from Poutini Chiefs". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  24. 1 2 Nathan, Simon (2016). "West Coast region – European arrival and settlement". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  25. 1 2 Bradshaw, Julia, ed. (2014). The Diggers' Story: Accounts of the West Coast gold rushes. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-927145-60-9.
  26. 1 2 "West Coast History – Grey District Council". www.greydc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  27. ↑ McLintock, A. H., ed. (22 April 2009) [First published in 1966]. "Greymouth". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  28. ↑ Pollard, John. "Rochfort, John". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  29. 1 2 Kerridge, Peter, 1942– (1993). Glimpses of Greymouth and district : a 1993 record of the development of Greymouth and district over the past one hundred and twenty-five years and some of the activities and achievements of its citizens, councils and community organisations, 1868–1993. Grey District (N.Z.). District Council. Greymouth, N.Z.: 125th Jubilee Committee of the Grey District Council. p. 65. ISBN 0-473-02367-9. OCLC 154645099. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ McLintock, A. H., ed. (22 April 2009) [First published in 1966]. "Westland Province and Provincial District". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  31. ↑ "Proposal to Join the Grey District to Nelson Province". Grey River Argus. 21 March 1866. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 Kokshoorn, Tony (2011). The Golden Grey West Coasters 1860 – 2010. Greymouth: Tony Kokshoorn. pp. 243–355. ISBN 978-0-473-19842-8.
  33. ↑ "The Lauderdale Stranded on the South Beach". Greymouth Evening Star. 27 June 1910. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  34. ↑ "The Wrecked Lauderdale". Greymouth Evening Star. 28 June 1910. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  35. 1 2 "Family remembers the Lauderdale". 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  36. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  37. ↑ Statistics New Zealand (2002). 2001 Census Regional Summary – Volume 1. Wellington: Information and Publishing Services Division of Statistics New Zealand. p. 25. ISBN 0-478-26906-4. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  38. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Cobden (310100), Blaketown (310200), Greymouth Central (310300), King Park (310400), Marsden (310500), Karoro (310600) and Rutherglen-Camerons (310700).
  39. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Cobden
  40. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Blaketown
  41. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Greymouth Central
  42. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: King Park
  43. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Marsden
  44. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Karoro
  45. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Rutherglen-Camerons
  46. ↑ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  47. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Greymouth Rural (310800). 2018 Census place summary: Greymouth Rural
  48. 1 2 3 4 Carroll, Joanne (9 March 2018). "Greymouth is decaying – can it be saved?". Stuff. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  49. 1 2 Kerridge, Peter (1993). Glimpses of Greymouth and District. Greymouth: 125th Jubilee Committee of the Grey District Council. p. 65. ISBN 0473023679.
  50. ↑ "Greymouth bar braved by experienced fisherman – NZ News – Video". 3 News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  51. ↑ How the West was won:Pike River on track – New Zealand Construction News, Volume 2, Issues 3, July 2007
  52. ↑ Graham, Pam (14 January 2007). "Pike River coal mine goes ahead on DOC land". The New Zealand Herald.
  53. ↑ "Timeline – Pike River mine explosion". The Press. 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  54. ↑ Beswick, Angela (24 November 2010). "Second explosion, no survivors". TV3 News. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  55. ↑ Keppel, Jo (23 August 2007). "Art vision in reality". Greymouth Star. p. 6.
  56. ↑ Kerridge, Peter, ed. (1993). Glimpses of Greymouth and District. Greymouth: The 125th Jubilee Committee of the Grey District Council. p. 136. ISBN 0-473-02367-9.
  57. ↑ "Greymouth Operatic Society". Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  58. 1 2 3 4 5 Buckley, Frances (2004). Greymouth street names: a short history (2 ed.). Greymouth: Grey District Library. ISBN 0-476-00294-X.
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