Blacks Point is a locality near Reefton on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
Blacks Point is located south-west of Reefton on State Highway 7 adjacent to the Inangahua River.[1] The settlement is one of many that were founded in the early 1870s, at a time when over 80 mines were being sunk into the gold-bearing quartz reefs in the Reefton area. Most of the settlers who formed the township of Blacks Point in 1873 were miners from Cornwall.[2]
One attraction is the Blacks Point Museum, a former Wesleyan Methodist Church from 1876 converted to a museum that displays the history of a typical mining town.[3]
Demographics
Blacks Point and its environs, which include Crushington and Big River, cover 588.18 km2 (227.10 sq mi)[4] The area surrounds but does not include Reefton. It is part of the larger Inangahua statistical area.[5]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 144 | — |
| 2013 | 165 | +1.96% |
| 2018 | 168 | +0.36% |
| 2023 | 171 | +0.35% |
| Source: [6][7] | ||
The area had a population of 171 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (1.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 6 people (3.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 87 males and 84 females in 87 dwellings.[8] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 53.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18 people (10.5%) aged under 15 years, 12 (7.0%) aged 15 to 29, 90 (52.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (28.1%) aged 65 or older.[6]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.7% European (Pākehā); 12.3% Māori; 1.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as “New Zealander”. English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 1.8%, and other languages by 3.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 10.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[6]
Religious affiliations were 28.1% Christian, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.2%, and 7.0% of people did not answer the census question.[6]
Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (13.7%) people had a bachelor’s or higher degree, 81 (52.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 51 (33.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (9.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 63 (41.2%) full-time, 27 (17.6%) part-time, and 3 (2.0%) unemployed.[6]
References
- ^ “Place name detail: Blacks Point”. New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Heritage West Coast (November 2015). Heritage West Coast Ngā Taonga Pūmau o Te Tai Pounamu: A Strategic Vision 2015–2025. Greymouth: Heritage West Coast. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-473-31235-0. Wikidata Q105750397.
- ^ “Our history”. Reefton Tourism. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ .“Stats NZ Geographic Data Service”. Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ^ “Geographic Boundary Viewer”. Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ a b c d e “Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses”. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7023644. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ “Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census”. Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023644.
- ^ “Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses”. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.