Runanga, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Runanga is a small town on the West Coast
of the South Island
of New Zealand
. It is located ten kilometres to the northwest of Greymouth, to the north of the Grey River. Barrytown
is 21 kilometres further north. State Highway 6
runs through the town.
The population of Runanga and its surrounds, including the separate settlement of Rapahoe to the north-west, was 1,221 in the 2006 Census
, a decrease of 84 from 2001.
The town's origins can be traced back to European colonisation in the late 19th century, when large numbers of settlers came to work the local coal
fields. The town's name is Maori
for meeting place. Coal mining
is still the main employer of the town.
The Foundation members were R McMillan, H Fisher, J Musgrove, J O'Connel, W.T. Foster, F Crange, R McTaggart, Owen O'Connell, G.W. Timlin, A.W. Fisher, W Amor, J Stephens, D Butler, S H Werner, J O'Neil and R Scott.
In April 1943 The Lodge held their first meeting in their own Hall. They had been meeting in rented accommodation up until then.
of 3 and a roll of 103.
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 located ten kilometres to the northwest of Greymouth, to the north of the Grey River. Barrytown
Barrytown
Barrytown is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. Barrytown sits on State Highway 6 and is 21 km north of Runanga. Punakaiki is 16 km further north...
is 21 kilometres further north. State Highway 6
New Zealand State Highway 6
State Highway 6 is a major New Zealand State Highway. It extends from the northeastern corner of the South Island across the top of the island, then down the length of the island, initially along the West Coast and then across the Southern Alps through inland Otago and finally across the Southland...
runs through the town.
The population of Runanga and its surrounds, including the separate settlement of Rapahoe to the north-west, was 1,221 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 decrease of 84 from 2001.
The town's origins can be traced back to European colonisation in the late 19th century, when large numbers of settlers came to work the local coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
fields. The town's name 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...
for meeting place. Coal mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
is still the main employer of the town.
Community
As with most other towns, Runanga had its fair share of clubs and societies. One such organisation that no longer exists in Runanga and which few may remember is the Runanga Lodge No 74 of the Royal Antedilluvian Order of Buffaloe's. This Lodge was opened on May the 13th 1939 by the Provincial Grand Primo Bro. James Insull K.O.M. The founders of the lodge were Bro.C Ingram C.P. and Bro. T Durkin C.P.The Foundation members were R McMillan, H Fisher, J Musgrove, J O'Connel, W.T. Foster, F Crange, R McTaggart, Owen O'Connell, G.W. Timlin, A.W. Fisher, W Amor, J Stephens, D Butler, S H Werner, J O'Neil and R Scott.
In April 1943 The Lodge held their first meeting in their own Hall. They had been meeting in rented accommodation up until then.
Notable people
- James O'BrienJames O'Brien (New Zealand)James O’Brien was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the Westland seat in Parliament from 1922, when he defeated Tom Seddon...
, Labour MP for Westland 1922-25 and 1928–1947 and Minister of Transport and Marine during the First Labour GovernmentFirst Labour Government of New ZealandThe First Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1935 to 1949. It set the tone of New Zealand's economic and welfare policies until the 1980s, establishing a welfare state, a system of Keynesian economic management, and high levels of state intervention...
, lived and worked in Runanga from 1906 for about ten years. - Bob SempleBob SempleRobert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand....
, Minister of Public Works in the First Labour Government, was President of the Runanga Miner's Union in 1907. - Paddy WebbPaddy WebbPatrick Charles "Paddy" Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.-Early life:Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria. His father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself...
, Minister of Mines in the First Labour Government, worked in the Runanga mine about 1906.
Education
Runanga School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) 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 3 and a roll of 103.