Āria is a rural community in the Waitomo District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.[1]

Āria
Village
Map
Coordinates: 38°33′41″S 174°59′07″E / 38.56139°S 174.98528°E / -38.56139; 174.98528
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato region
DistrictWaitomo District
WardWaitomo Rural Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWaitomo District Council
 • Regional councilWaikato Regional Council
Population
 (2018 Census)
 • Territorial
129
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)

The area experienced severe flooding in September 2017.[2][3]

History

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Āria began in 1904, when some 30 blocks of around 200 acres (81 ha)[4] were given under the Homestead Acts.[5] Four small mines produced 53,000 tons from Aria coalfield between 1917 and 1961.[6] To the east of Āria[7] a lime quarry opened in the 1960s.[8] A new post office opened in 1922[9] and there was a butter factory[10] from about 1911.[11]

Demographics

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Āria statistical area, which also includes Piopio, covers 531.76 km2 (205.31 sq mi)[12] and had an estimated population of 1,340 as of June 2024,[13] with a population density of 2.5 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,359—    
20131,194−1.83%
20181,290+1.56%
Source: [14]

Āria had a population of 1,290 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 96 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 69 people (−5.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 462 households, comprising 654 males and 636 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 324 people (25.1%) aged under 15 years, 237 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (44.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 165 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 76.5% European/Pākehā, 36.3% Māori, 1.4% Pacific peoples, 1.4% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.1% had no religion, 25.1% were Christian, 4.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 126 (13.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 225 (23.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 108 people (11.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 513 (53.1%) people were employed full-time, 210 (21.7%) were part-time, and 30 (3.1%) were unemployed.[14]

Āria community is in meshblocks 1014500, 1014600, 1014900 and 1015000, which had a population of 129 in the 2018 census.[15]

Education

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Āria School is a co-educational state primary school,[16][17] with a roll of 50 as of August 2024.[18][19] The school was established in 1908.[20]

Climate

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Climate data for Wairere (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.9
(73.2)
23.4
(74.1)
21.9
(71.4)
19.0
(66.2)
16.0
(60.8)
13.3
(55.9)
12.9
(55.2)
13.8
(56.8)
15.3
(59.5)
16.7
(62.1)
18.9
(66.0)
21.1
(70.0)
17.9
(64.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)
17.8
(64.0)
16.1
(61.0)
13.3
(55.9)
11.0
(51.8)
8.8
(47.8)
8.1
(46.6)
9.1
(48.4)
10.8
(51.4)
12.3
(54.1)
14.1
(57.4)
16.1
(61.0)
12.9
(55.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6)
12.3
(54.1)
10.3
(50.5)
7.6
(45.7)
5.9
(42.6)
4.3
(39.7)
3.3
(37.9)
4.3
(39.7)
6.3
(43.3)
7.9
(46.2)
9.2
(48.6)
11.1
(52.0)
7.9
(46.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 114.7
(4.52)
84.6
(3.33)
112.3
(4.42)
81.7
(3.22)
141.0
(5.55)
157.3
(6.19)
136.6
(5.38)
103.6
(4.08)
118.4
(4.66)
143.9
(5.67)
96.9
(3.81)
107.0
(4.21)
1,398
(55.04)
Source: NIWA[21]

References

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  1. ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Aria, Waikato". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  2. ^ Moorby, Caitlin (6 September 2017). "Tourists rescued from flooded car as wild weather hits North Island". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  3. ^ "Tornado, lightning and flooding cause mayhem around NZ". Stuff. 6 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Crown Lands Ballot. TARANAKI DAILY NEWS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 12 March 1904. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. ^ "THE ARIA DISTRICT. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 21 February 1929. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  6. ^ Steve Edbrooke. "Mineral Commodity Report 18 - Coal. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Rorison Mineral Developments". Google Maps. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Rorisons RMD - A legacy of Lime from quarry to farm". rorisons.co.nz. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  9. ^ "ARIA POST OFFICE. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 April 1922. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  10. ^ "THE ARIA DISTRICT. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 21 February 1929. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  11. ^ Ron. "Aria Factory - c1911". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  12. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Aria (187200). 2018 Census place summary: Aria
  15. ^ "Meshblock Electoral Populations 2020 for proposed boundaries data". Statistics New Zealand. April 2020. Meshblocks 1014500, 1014600, 1014900 and 1015000.
  16. ^ "Aria School Official School Website". aria.school.nz.
  17. ^ "Aria School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  18. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Aria School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  20. ^ "About Us". Aria School. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  21. ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database : Wairere". NIWA. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
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