Facts and figures
Land area
- South Canterbury: 13,745 sq km
- New Zealand: 268,690 sq km
Climate (Timaru)
(National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research data, 1971–2000)
- Mean temperature, January: 16.2°C
- Mean temperature, July: 5.7°C
- Mean annual rainfall: 573 mm
- Mean annual sunshine: 1,826 hours
Total population, 2006
- South Canterbury: 53,877
- New Zealand: 4,027,947
Major urban area, 2006
- Timaru: 26,895
Ethnic affiliation, 2006
(Multiple responses allowed)
European
- South Canterbury: 80.7%
- New Zealand: 67.6%
New Zealander 1
- South Canterbury: 16.9%
- New Zealand: 11.1%
Māori
- South Canterbury: 6.0%
- New Zealand: 14.6%
Pacific Island
- South Canterbury: 0.8%
- New Zealand: 6.9%
Asian incl Indian
- South Canterbury: 1.5%
- New Zealand: 9.2%
Principal tribes/sub-tribes
Ngāi (Kai) Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Waitaha
Age distribution, 2006
Under 15
- South Canterbury: 19.5%
- New Zealand: 21.5%
15–64
- South Canterbury: 62.5%
- New Zealand: 66.2%
65 and over
- South Canterbury: 18.0%
- New Zealand: 12.3%
Employment by industry, 2001
(Figures are for workers aged 15 and over, in selected industries in which the region’s employment pattern is most distinctive)
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
- South Canterbury: 17.3%
- New Zealand: 8.3%
Manufacturing
- South Canterbury: 17.6%
- New Zealand: 13.0%
Property and business services
- South Canterbury: 6.2%
- New Zealand: 11.3%
Unemployment, 2006
- South Canterbury: 3.5%
- New Zealand: 5.1%
Livestock numbers, 2002
(Agricultural Production Survey, Statistics New Zealand)
Sheep
- South Canterbury: 2,209,679
- New Zealand: 39, 571, 837
Dairy cattle
- South Canterbury: 122,278
- New Zealand: 5,161,589
Beef cattle
- South Canterbury: 130,309
- New Zealand: 4,491,281
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