Hakataramea facts for kids

Hakataramea is a small village in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand. It's sometimes spelled Hakateramea in older writings. This rural village is part of the Waimate District. It sits right where the Hakataramea River flows into the larger Waitaki River.

North of Hakataramea, you'll find a rural area called Waihaorunga. This area has a few small communities. One of these is Douglas, which was settled in 1911 and has about 20 people.

Hakataramea's Past

Early Settlement and Growth

The land around Hakataramea was first leased by a company in the 1860s. People started to settle here permanently in 1878. This was an important step in the area's development.

The Bridge and Railway

A special bridge was opened on November 7, 1881. It connected Kurow to Hakataramea across the Waitaki River. This bridge was unique because it carried both a road and a railway line! The railway, called the Kurow Branch, helped connect Hakataramea to the main railway network. This connection was very important for the local economy.

There were even plans to extend the railway further up the Hakataramea River valley. The idea was to build a new town there for 10,000 people. However, neither the town nor the railway extension were ever built. Trains that used this line were called mixed trains. They carried both passengers and goods.

Railway Closure and Modern Use

The railway section between Kurow and Hakataramea was only 1.76 kilometers long. It closed on July 14, 1930. This happened because there wasn't much train traffic, and the larger Kurow railway station was very close by. Today, the old road and rail bridge is only used for cars. It now carries State Highway 82.

Remembering World War I

During World War I, eight soldiers from Hakataramea sadly lost their lives. A small, square stone monument stands in the village today. It helps everyone remember their sacrifice.

People of Hakataramea

Population and Area

The Hakataramea area covers about 2,059.60 square kilometers. As of June 2023, about 940 people live here. This means there are about 0.46 people for every square kilometer.

Census Information

The 2018 New Zealand census counted 831 people living in Hakataramea. This was an increase of 75 people since the 2013 census. There were 327 homes in the area. For every 100 females, there were about 105 males. The average age of people living here was 42.1 years.

About 20.9% of the people were under 15 years old. About 12.3% were between 15 and 29 years old. Most people, 50.5%, were aged 30 to 64. And 16.2% were 65 years or older.

Ethnic Backgrounds

Most people in Hakataramea, about 93.5%, are of European or Pākehā background. About 4.0% are Māori. Smaller groups include Pasifika (1.1%) and Asian (3.2%). Some people identify with more than one ethnic group. About 12.6% of the people living here were born outside New Zealand.

Beliefs and Work

When asked about their religious beliefs, 50.5% of people said they had no religion. About 39.0% were Christian. A small number were Buddhist (0.7%) or had other religions (0.4%).

The average income in Hakataramea was $32,200. This was very close to the national average. Most adults (58.0%) worked full-time, and 17.4% worked part-time.

Hakataramea's Weather

Climate Overview

Hakataramea Valley has a varied climate throughout the year. The weather information below is based on data collected between 1991 and 2020. The valley is located at an elevation of about 355 meters (1,165 feet).