Karamea
Encyclopedia
Karamea is a town on the West Coast
of the South Island
of New Zealand
.
It is the northernmost settlement of any real size on the West Coast, and is located 96 kilometres north-east by road from Westport
. There is no other connecting road to the town - the road north ends at the Kohaihai River
some 20 kilometres from Karamea, at the south western end of the Heaphy Track
. The Karamea River
flows past the town to the south and into the Karamea Bight
, part of the Tasman Sea
.
The population was 423 in the 2006 Census
, a decline of 18 from 2001.
The name Karamea is Maori
- despite local jokes suggesting it was named by an Italian for his love - and is thought to either mean "red ochre" or be a corruption of Kakarataramea, "the smell of speargrass leaves". The large bay formed by the curve of coastline north for 100 kilometres from Cape Foulwind
is called Karamea Bight
.
The Oparara River
runs through the area, and the Oparara Basin Arches
, large natural river tunnels, are a well-known tourist destination, though tourism in the area is limited compared to most other parts of New Zealand. The Karamea River flows into the sea just south of the main township, and there is a large lagoon which completely clears of water at low tide, and completely fills with water at high tide.
Karamea township offers local services including a general store, supermarket, petrol pumps, information centre, cafe, hotel, camping ground, motels, backpackers and art & craft shop.
Farming was to become a major industry, but timber, flax and gold also provided a means to a living. The Murchison earthquake in 1929
caused the silting up of the harbour and cut the community's road link for about two years. Dairying remains a major industry of Karamea. Sphagnum moss, possum control, fishing, fine furniture production, horticultural tomato growers and a plant nursery also provide income, while the service industry employs approximately a quarter of the workforce. Fruit grown in the area includes tamarillos, which can be grown here due to the area's mild and frost-free microclimate.
starts (or finishes) at the Kohaihai River
, which is about 20 kilometres north of Karamea. The Wangapeka Track also begins (or ends) near Karamea. The Oparara Basin with the Oparara Arches, Honeycomb Caves and rainforest walks is also a popular attraction. Tourism is a fast-growing segment of the local economy and the region is often said to be "New Zealand's best-kept secret".
The LivinginPeace Project, an undertaking mixing travelling, permaculture, art and education, is being built in Karamea.
of 5 and a roll of 93. The school celebrated 125 years of settlement and schooling in 2000.
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It is the northernmost settlement of any real size on the West Coast, and is located 96 kilometres north-east by road from Westport
Westport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
. There is no other connecting road to the town - the road north ends at the Kohaihai River
Kohaihai River
The Kohaihai River is a river of the northwest of New Zealand's South Island. Flowing southwest and then west from the Dommett Range, the river's entire length is within the Kahurangi National Park. The river's mouth marks the south western end of the Heaphy Track and the northern terminus of the...
some 20 kilometres from Karamea, at the south western end of the Heaphy Track
Heaphy Track
The Heaphy Track is a popular tramping track in the north west of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located within the Kahurangi National Park and classified as one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks by the Department of Conservation. Named after Charles Heaphy, the track is 82 km long and...
. The Karamea River
Karamea River
The Karamea River is a river of New Zealand. It is located in the Tasman and West Coast Regions of the South Island. The river rises within Kahurangi National Park in the Matiri Range of the Southern Alps. The river rises to the east of Mount Allen, meandering west briefly before turning north...
flows past the town to the south and into the Karamea Bight
Karamea Bight
The Karamea Bight is the name given to a large bay in the Tasman Sea formed by a curved stretch of the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It stretches for 100 kilometres north from Cape Foulwind to just north of the mouth of the Heaphy River....
, part of the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
.
The population was 423 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, a decline of 18 from 2001.
The name Karamea is Maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
- despite local jokes suggesting it was named by an Italian for his love - and is thought to either mean "red ochre" or be a corruption of Kakarataramea, "the smell of speargrass leaves". The large bay formed by the curve of coastline north for 100 kilometres from Cape Foulwind
Cape Foulwind
Cape Foulwind is a prominent headland on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, overlooking the Tasman Sea. It is located ten kilometres west of the town of Westport...
is called Karamea Bight
Karamea Bight
The Karamea Bight is the name given to a large bay in the Tasman Sea formed by a curved stretch of the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It stretches for 100 kilometres north from Cape Foulwind to just north of the mouth of the Heaphy River....
.
The Oparara River
Oparara River
The Oparara River is a river in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island.It is best known for the Oparara Basin Arches and flows through a section of the Honeycomb Hill Cave...
runs through the area, and the Oparara Basin Arches
Oparara Basin Arches
The Oparara Basin Arches are a number of natural limestone tunnels formed by the Oparara River in New Zealand. The two most famous ones are the 'Oparara Arch', large enough for a multi-storey house, and the 'Moria Gate Arch', smaller in height, but also an impressive, beautiful place .The arches...
, large natural river tunnels, are a well-known tourist destination, though tourism in the area is limited compared to most other parts of New Zealand. The Karamea River flows into the sea just south of the main township, and there is a large lagoon which completely clears of water at low tide, and completely fills with water at high tide.
Karamea township offers local services including a general store, supermarket, petrol pumps, information centre, cafe, hotel, camping ground, motels, backpackers and art & craft shop.
History
Maori occupation in this area seems to have been mainly seasonal. The first Europeans and Chinese would have been early gold-miners in the 1860s. The first true settlement of the area took place in 1874 when the (then) fine harbour and sea provided the only means of contact with the outside world. This original settlement was on the South Terrace but poor soil forced the inhabitants down to the river valley. One side of the river (Umere) was known as the Land of Promise, the other side (Arapito) as the Promised Land.Farming was to become a major industry, but timber, flax and gold also provided a means to a living. The Murchison earthquake in 1929
1929 Murchison earthquake
The 1929 Murchison earthquake occurred at 10:17 AM on 17 June. It struck the Murchison region of South Island, with an estimated magnitude of 7.8, and was felt throughout New Zealand. There were 17 casualties, mostly as a result of landslides triggered by the earthquake...
caused the silting up of the harbour and cut the community's road link for about two years. Dairying remains a major industry of Karamea. Sphagnum moss, possum control, fishing, fine furniture production, horticultural tomato growers and a plant nursery also provide income, while the service industry employs approximately a quarter of the workforce. Fruit grown in the area includes tamarillos, which can be grown here due to the area's mild and frost-free microclimate.
Tourism
Tourists visit Karamea all year round to enjoy the many scenic attractions in the region, which is enveloped by the Kahurangi National Park. One of New Zealand's nine "Great Walks," the Heaphy TrackHeaphy Track
The Heaphy Track is a popular tramping track in the north west of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located within the Kahurangi National Park and classified as one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks by the Department of Conservation. Named after Charles Heaphy, the track is 82 km long and...
starts (or finishes) at the Kohaihai River
Kohaihai River
The Kohaihai River is a river of the northwest of New Zealand's South Island. Flowing southwest and then west from the Dommett Range, the river's entire length is within the Kahurangi National Park. The river's mouth marks the south western end of the Heaphy Track and the northern terminus of the...
, which is about 20 kilometres north of Karamea. The Wangapeka Track also begins (or ends) near Karamea. The Oparara Basin with the Oparara Arches, Honeycomb Caves and rainforest walks is also a popular attraction. Tourism is a fast-growing segment of the local economy and the region is often said to be "New Zealand's best-kept secret".
The LivinginPeace Project, an undertaking mixing travelling, permaculture, art and education, is being built in Karamea.
Education
Karamea Area School is a coeducational composite (years 1-15) school with a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 5 and a roll of 93. The school celebrated 125 years of settlement and schooling in 2000.