Nightcaps, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nightcaps
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|
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Region | Southland region |
| Territorial authorities of New Zealand | Southland District |
| Ward | Waiau Aparima Ward |
| Community | Wallace Takitimu Community |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 1.67 km2 (0.64 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 300 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (470/sq mi) |
Nightcaps is a small town located in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It's known for its interesting history, especially linked to coal mining.
The town's name, Nightcaps, might come from two ideas. One is the snow often seen on the nearby Takitimu Mountains, which could look like "nightcaps." The other idea is that early settlers saw fog covering the hills known as the Nobbles, making them look like caps.
State Highway State Highway 96 passes right through Nightcaps. This road connects the town to Ohai and Winton. Nightcaps has a golf course and two primary schools. These schools teach students from Nightcaps and the surrounding countryside. They also welcome students from Ohai, since its own school closed in 2003.
Contents
Nightcaps' Coal Mining History
Nightcaps has a strong industrial past, different from many other towns in Southland. This is because there are large coal deposits nearby.
Early Railways and Coal Transport
To move coal more easily, a private railway was built. It connected to the main New Zealand Railways Department line at Wairio. The Nightcaps Coal Company ran this railway, which opened soon after the state railway reached Wairio in 1909.
In 1918, there was a plan to build another railway line. This new line would go to coal mines near Ohai. The Nightcaps Coal Company was against this idea. They worried it would cause them to lose business.
However, the new railway was approved in July 1919. It included a detour through Morley Village, which was considered part of Nightcaps. The first part of this new line, including the section serving Morley Village, opened on 1 September 1920.
The railway reached Ohai four years later. In 1925, the Nightcaps Coal Company stopped operating. They gave their railway line to the Railways Department. The department then took apart the old Nightcaps line in 1926. The new Ohai line was able to handle all the coal transport from Nightcaps.
The Ohai line is still used today, mainly for carrying coal. It is one of the few rural branch lines left in New Zealand. Many such lines once existed across the country. This line has been part of the national rail network since June 1, 1990.
Modern Coal Mining in Nightcaps
In 1980, the coal industry in Nightcaps began to slow down. This was partly because machines started doing more of the work, meaning fewer people were needed.
Today, there is one main coal mine operating in Nightcaps. It is called the Takitimu Coal Mine. Bathurst Resources has been running this mine since 2011.
In 2021, Bathurst Resources announced plans for a new mining area. This project, called "New Brighton," could add another 2 to 4 years to their coal production in Southland. Some environmental groups, like Forest and Bird, were concerned about this. They asked for a review, saying that the Southern District Council did not think enough about climate change when approving the exploration.
The Takitimu mine currently produces about 200,000 tonnes of coal each year. This coal is used by customers in New Zealand, mostly for food processing. Some of it is also exported. The New Zealand Government recognized coal mining as an "essential service" during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. In 2021, it was called a "key utility." This shows how important coal mining is for New Zealand's food production.
Nightcaps' Population and People
Nightcaps is a rural settlement. It covers an area of 1.67 km2 (0.64 sq mi). As of June 2023, , it had an estimated population of 300 people. This means there are about 180 people living in each square kilometer.
Nightcaps is part of a larger area called Ohai-Nightcaps. This bigger area also includes Ohai, Wairio, and Wreys Bush.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population for Nightcaps settlement | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 309 | — |
| 2013 | 294 | −0.71% |
| 2018 | 306 | +0.80% |
In 2018, Nightcaps had 306 people. This was a small increase of 12 people (4.1%) since the 2013 census. However, it was a small decrease of 3 people (−1.0%) since the 2006 census.
There were 138 households in Nightcaps in 2018. The population included 165 males and 138 females. About 16.7% of the people were under 15 years old.
Who Lives in Nightcaps?
Most people in Nightcaps identify as European/Pākehā (90.2%). About 17.6% identify as Māori. Some people identify with more than one ethnicity.
When asked about religion, 45.1% of people said they had no religion. About 41.2% were Christian. A small number (2.0%) followed Māori religious beliefs.
For those aged 15 and older, 11.8% had a university degree or higher. About 38.8% had no formal qualifications. Many people in Nightcaps are employed. In 2018, 37.6% worked full-time, and 17.6% worked part-time.
Education in Nightcaps
Nightcaps has two primary schools that serve the community.
Takitimu Primary School
Takitimu Primary School is a state school for students from Year 1 to Year 8. It has a roll of 71 students as of February 2024. . The school first opened in 1884 as Nightcaps School. In 2009, Takitimu celebrated 125 years of education in the area.
St Patrick's School
St Patrick's School is a state-integrated Catholic school. It also teaches students from Year 1 to Year 8. It has a roll of 26 students. This school opened its doors in 1917.
