Canvastown

Canvastown
Interactive map of Canvastown
Coordinates: 41°17′26″S 173°40′13″E / 41.29056°S 173.67028°E / -41.29056; 173.67028
CountryNew Zealand
RegionMarlborough
Ward
  • Marlborough Sounds General Ward
  • Marlborough Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityMarlborough District Council
 • Marlborough District MayorNadine Taylor
 • Kaikōura MPStuart Smith
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total
22.44 km2 (8.66 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)
 • Total
204
 • Density9.09/km2 (23.5/sq mi)

Canvastown is a locality at the point where the Wakamarina River joins the Pelorus River, in Marlborough, New Zealand. State Highway 6 runs through the area. Rai Valley is 17 km to the northwest. Havelock is 10 km to the east.

The town was founded in 1864, after gold was discovered in the Wakamarina Valley. Up to 6000 miners came to make their fortunes. Where there had previously been a Māori Pā, streets of tents sprang up providing accommodation, restaurants and taverns to a population of about 3000 people. About 25,000 ounces (710,000 g) of gold was recovered in 1864.

The surface gold was worked out within two years and most of the miners moved to new gold discoveries on the West Coast. Steam dredges continued to work the river into the 20th century.

Demographics

Canvastown locality covers 22.44 km2 (8.66 sq mi). It is part of the larger Marlborough Sounds West statistical area.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006129—    
2013129+0.00%
2018162+4.66%
2023204+4.72%
Source:

Canvastown had a population of 204 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (25.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 75 people (58.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 96 males and 108 females in 78 dwellings. 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 45 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 24 (11.8%) aged 15 to 29, 102 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (16.2%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 97.1% European (Pākehā); 17.6% Māori; 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, Māori by 2.9%, and other languages by 2.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 7.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 22.1% Christian, 1.5% Hindu, 1.5% Islam, 1.5% Buddhist, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 70.6%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (7.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 102 (64.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 42 (26.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $26,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (3.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 75 (47.2%) full-time, 24 (15.1%) part-time, and 3 (1.9%) unemployed.

Education

Canvastown School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 29. The school was built in 1877 and celebrated its 125th Jubilee in 2002.

Deek Creek School in the Wakamarina Valley opened in 1883 and closed about 1945.: 127–128, 169 

Marae

Te Hora Marae is located in Canvastown. It is the marae (meeting ground) of Ngāti Kuia and includes Te Hora wharenui (meeting house).

In October 2020, the Government committed $32,318 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating four jobs.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Kaikōura - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7023226. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 60. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. ↑ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 138. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. ↑ "Gold Discoveries – Wakamarina and the West Coast". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  9. ↑ "Gold and gold mining – Other goldfields". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  10. ↑ McIntosh, Alister; Redman, William Edward; Allen, William Raymond, eds. (1940). Marlborough: A Provincial History. Blenheim: Marlborough Provincial Historical Committee. p. 241.
  11. ↑ Marlborough Historical Society (2005). Click – A Captured Moment – Marlborough's Early Heritage. Blenheim: Marlborough Historical Society. p. 200. ISBN 0-473-10475-X.
  12. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  13. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023226.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "Te Kete Ipurangi – Canvastown School". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 23 March 2002.
  16. ↑ "Canvastown School (X1719)". National Register of Archives and Manuscripts. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  17. ↑ "Jubilees & reunions: Canvastown School". Education Gazette New Zealand. 81 (5). 25 March 2002. Archived from the original on 10 November 2003.
  18. ↑ "Havelock" (PDF). Wairarapa School History. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  20. ↑ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  21. ↑ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "Q+A with Dr. Vanessa Weenink". Cantabrian Magazine. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.