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Granity is a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, 28 kilometres (17 mi) north-east of Westport on State Highway 67. Karamea is 68 kilometres (42 mi) further north.[6][7]

The town is on a narrow strip of land between the Tasman Sea to the west and steep, mountains to the immediate east. Long known as a coal–mining town, the population declined as the industry waned. The population was 190 in June 2025.[2] Several neighbouring towns, such as Denniston, have become virtually ghost towns. In 1911 Granity’s population was 589,[8] 641 in 1921[9] and 547 in 1956.[10] Granity had a railway station on the Westport-Ngākawau Line from 28 Feb 1892 until 16 May 1982, though closed to passengers from 14 October 1946.[11] In 1902 it had a staff of 5.[12]

The name “Granity” was given to the town by gold prospectors, in reference to the large quantity of granite in the area.[13]

Demographics

Granity is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement which covers 2.36 km2 (0.91 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 190 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 81 people per km2. It is part of the larger Buller Coalfields statistical area.[14]

Historical population for Granity
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006189—    
2013213+1.72%
2018180−3.31%
2023192+1.30%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 1.95 km2.
Source: [15]

Granity had a population of 192 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (6.7%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 21 people (−9.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 108 males and 87 females in 105 dwellings.[16] 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 58.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 21 people (10.9%) aged under 15 years, 18 (9.4%) aged 15 to 29, 99 (51.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (31.2%) aged 65 or older.[17]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.2% European (Pākehā), 12.5% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, and 6.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as “New Zealander”. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 1.6%, and other languages by 1.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[17]

Religious affiliations were 20.3% Christian, 3.1% New Age, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.9%, and 14.1% of people did not answer the census question.[17]

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (8.8%) people had a bachelor’s or higher degree, 99 (57.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (36.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $24,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (1.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 48 (28.1%) full-time, 24 (14.0%) part-time, and 9 (5.3%) unemployed.[17]

Buller Coalfields statistical area

Buller Coalfields statistical area, which also includes Hector and Ngakawau and Waimangaroa, covers 498.52 km2 (192.48 sq mi).[18] It had an estimated population of 960 as of June 2025,[19] with a population density of 1.9 people per km2.

Historical population for Buller Coalfields
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006939—    
2013987+0.71%
2018909−1.63%
2023963+1.16%
Source: [20][21]

Buller Coalfields had a population of 963 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 54 people (5.9%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 24 people (−2.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 504 males, 453 females, and 3 people of other genders in 495 dwellings.[22] 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 58.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 105 people (10.9%) aged under 15 years, 84 (8.7%) aged 15 to 29, 501 (52.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 273 (28.3%) aged 65 or older.[20]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.3% European (Pākehā); 13.1% Māori; 1.6% Pasifika; 2.2% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 5.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as “New Zealander”. English was spoken by 99.1%, Māori by 2.2%, and other languages by 3.7%. No language could be spoken by 0.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[20]

Religious affiliations were 20.9% Christian, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% New Age, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.6%, and 11.5% of people did not answer the census question.[20]

Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (10.1%) people had a bachelor’s or higher degree, 459 (53.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 312 (36.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $25,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 36 people (4.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 297 (34.6%) full-time, 108 (12.6%) part-time, and 27 (3.1%) unemployed.[20]

Economy

The Granity Creek Sawmill was established in 1846 and was a significant employer in the area. The town was also the location of the engineering division of the Westport Coal Company, and the railway station was used for loading and dispatching coal from the nearby Millerton mine.[23]

Education

Granity School is a co-educational full primary school (years 1–8), with a roll of 28 as of March 2026.[24][25] The natural erosion of the beach, at a rate of 40 centimetres (16 in) per year, is threatening the school buildings, and a stopbank has resulted in the school grounds protruding further out onto the beach than adjoining properties.[26]

The school opened in 1880[27] in Ngakawau and was later re-located to a site between Ngakawau and Granity. In 1901 it had a roll of 100 pupils.[23] By 1925, it was Granity District High School.[28] It moved to a new site and buildings in 1939.[29]

A school was moved from Coal Creek, Mokihinui about 1905 to Seddonville to become Seddonville School.[30][31] It closed in 1981 with the students moving to Granity School.[31]

Waimangaroa School opened in 1879 and closed in 2012, with most of its students transferring to Granity School.[32]

Biodiversity

The very rare and critically endangered cobble skink is only known to occur on a short stretch of pebbled coast at Granity.[33]

Notable people

Notable people from Granity include:

References

  1. ^ a b “Stats NZ Geographic Data Service”. Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  2. ^ a b c “Subnational population estimates – Aotearoa Data Explorer”. Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ “2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result” (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  4. ^ “West Coast-Tasman – Official Result”. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  5. ^ “Te Tai Tonga – Official Result”. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  6. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 62. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 134. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. ^ “Report on the results of a census of the Dominion of New Zealand” (PDF). 2 April 1911.
  9. ^ “1921 Census – Part 01 – Population”. statsnz.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  10. ^ “1956 Census – Part 01 – Increase and Location of Population”. statsnz.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  11. ^ Scoble, Juliet (April 2010). “Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010” (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  12. ^ “Granity”. nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  13. ^ Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
  14. ^ “Geographic Boundary Viewer”. Stats NZ. Urban Rural Areas – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  15. ^ “Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census”. Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023590.
  16. ^ “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.
  17. ^ a b c d “Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses”. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Granity (2053). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  18. ^ “Stats NZ Geographic Data Service”. Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  19. ^ “Subnational population estimates – Aotearoa Data Explorer”. Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  20. ^ 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. Buller Coalfields (309500). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  21. ^ “Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census”. Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Buller Coalfields (309500). 2018 Census place summary: Buller Coalfields
  22. ^ “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.
  23. ^ a b “Granity | NZETC”. nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  24. ^ “New Zealand Schools Directory”. New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  25. ^ “Granity School – Education Counts”. www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  26. ^ “Little Granity School versus the sea”. Timaru Herald. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  27. ^ “Granity School, 1880, centennial, 1980”. Centennial Committee. 1980 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  28. ^ “Nelson Education Board”. Nelson Evening Mail. 18 June 1925 – via Papers Past.
  29. ^ “New School Opened”. The Press. 23 October 1939 – via Papers Past.
  30. ^ “Nelson Education Board”. The Colonist. 28 April 1905 – via Papers Past.
  31. ^ a b Ward, Claire. “Seddonville School, date unknown”. West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  32. ^ Fulton, Kim (30 November 2012). “Waimangaroa school to close”. Westport News.
  33. ^ “Critter of the Week”. RNZ. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.

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