Facts and figures
Land area
- West Coast: 23,336 sq km
- New Zealand: 268,690 sq km
Climate
(National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research data, 1971–2000)
Westport
- Mean temperature, January: 16.2°C
- Mean temperature, July: 8.6°C
- Mean annual rainfall: 2,274 mm
- Mean annual sunshine: 1,838 hours
Hokitika
- Mean temperature, January: 15.6°C
- Mean temperature, July: 7.5°C
- Mean annual rainfall: 2,875 mm
- Mean annual sunshine: 1,860 hours
Total population, 2006
- West Coast: 31,326
- New Zealand: 4,027,947
Ethnic affiliation, 2006
(Multiple responses allowed)
European
- West Coast: 79.6%
- New Zealand: 67.6%
Māori
- West Coast: 9.7%
- New Zealand: 14.6%
New Zealander 1
- West Coast: 16.7%
- New Zealand: 11.1%
Pacific Island
- West Coast: 0.9%
- New Zealand: 6.9%
Asian (including Indian)
- West Coast: 1.1%
- New Zealand: 9.2%
Principal tribe
Poutini Ngāi Tahu
Population of major urban areas, 2006
- Greymouth: 9,669
Age distribution, 2006
Under 15
- West Coast: 20.4%
- New Zealand: 21.5%
15–64
- West Coast: 65.8%
- New Zealand: 66.2%
65 and over
- West Coast: 13.8%
- New Zealand: 12.3%
Employment by industry, 2006
(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
- West Coast: 12.4%
- New Zealand: 6.8%
Mining
- West Coast: 3.9%
- New Zealand: 0.2%
Accommodation and food services
- West Coast: 9.9%
- New Zealand: 5.6%
Unemployment, 2006
- West Coast: 3.3%
- New Zealand: 5.1%
Livestock numbers, 2007
Sheep
- West Coast: 54,094
- New Zealand: 38,460,477
Dairy cattle
- West Coast: 152,481
- New Zealand: 5,260,850
Beef cattle
- West Coast: 30,275
- New Zealand: 4,393,617
Next: Further Sources
