Manapouri
Manapouri | |
|---|---|
 Manapouri township | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 45°34′0″S 167°36′0″E / 45.56667°S 167.60000°ECoordinates: 45°34′0″S 167°36′0″E / 45.56667°S 167.60000°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Region | Southland |
| Ward | Mararoa Waimea Ward |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Southland District Council |
| • Regional council | Southland Regional Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 200 m (700 ft) |
| Population (2018 Census)[2] | |
| • Total | 222 |
| • Density | 160/km2 (420/sq mi) |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. The township is the westernmost municipality in New Zealand.[3] Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri, close to its outflow into the Waiau River, tourist boat services are based in the town.
Manapouri township is a 20-minute drive from Te Anau via State Highway 95 The town is the gateway to both Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound and the starting point for many local walking tracks. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly during the summer months. The Manapouri Hydroelectric Power Station is located on the West Arm of Lake Manapouri, with most of the electricity generated serving the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter (which is announced to close at the end of 2024).[4] Workers at the power plant are ferried by boat from Manapouri, as there is no road access to the power station.
Demographics[]
Manapouri is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi),[1] and is part of the larger Mararoa statistical area.[5]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 294 | — |
| 2013 | 201 | −5.29% |
| 2018 | 222 | +2.01% |
| Source: [2] | ||
Manapouri had a population of 222 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (10.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 72 people (−24.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 102 households. There were 117 males and 108 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 56.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 21 people (9.5%) aged under 15 years, 30 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 111 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 63 (28.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 94.6% European/Pākehā, 9.5% Māori, 1.4% Asian, and 4.1% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.1% had no religion, 41.9% were Christian and 2.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (14.9%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 51 (25.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 108 (53.7%) people were employed full-time and 36 (17.9%) were part-time.[2]
Facilities[]
Commercial services include a petrol station/garage, art gallery, cafes, shops, two restaurant and bars as well as overnight hotel, motel and motor camp accommodations. The small Te Anau Airport is situated 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the township and serves both Te Anau and Manapouri.
There are several tourist boat excursions based in Manapouri to service the Fiordland Sounds to fishing charters and boat hire. Excursions originating at Pearl Harbour at the southern end of Manapouri township take tourists across Lake Manapouri to view the underground hydroelectric facility, or continue on by bus over Wilmot Pass to boat tours of Doubtful Sound, adding up to a full day trip.
Walkways & Cycleways[]
Day walks are the Circle Track, the , the Shallow Bay portion of the Kepler Track and the Frazers Beach Reserve[6] walkways.
Supply Bay Road and the Rainbow Reach area are reasonably cycle-friendly. The is currently still under negotiation between the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Trails Trust.
Kayaking[]
The eastern end of Lake Manapouri is possibly the best waterway in New Zealand for kayak exploration with 20 islands and many coves, beaches, lagoons, waterfalls, huts, portages and channels with in a days return paddled from Manapouri township.
Monuments[]
At the intersection of State Highway 95 and Hillside Road is a monument to the Save Manapouri campaign which marks the first mass environmental movement in New Zealand history.
A natural monument, in the form of , lies across the lake from the township. This sharply pointed landmark beneath the Hunter Mountains to the west on Manapouri township is a prized destination for adventurous trampers.
Climate[]
Manapouri has an oceanic climate (Cfb) under the Köppen climate classification with mild summers and cool to cold winters. In a typical winter season, snowfalls and snow on the ground are likely on a handful of occasions.[7]
| Climate data for Manapouri (1981−2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 20.8 (69.4) |
20.6 (69.1) |
18.2 (64.8) |
14.9 (58.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.4 (47.1) |
8.1 (46.6) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
14.9 (58.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
18.9 (66.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.7 (58.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.1 (53.8) |
9.4 (48.9) |
7.0 (44.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
5.1 (41.2) |
7.4 (45.3) |
9.2 (48.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
13.0 (55.4) |
9.2 (48.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
8.0 (46.4) |
6.1 (43.0) |
4.0 (39.2) |
2.3 (36.1) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
0.2 (32.4) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.6 (38.5) |
4.9 (40.8) |
7.0 (44.6) |
3.9 (39.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 85.4 (3.36) |
84.3 (3.32) |
86.5 (3.41) |
90.0 (3.54) |
100.9 (3.97) |
101.8 (4.01) |
82.0 (3.23) |
93.9 (3.70) |
100.0 (3.94) |
107.7 (4.24) |
91.1 (3.59) |
105.1 (4.14) |
1,128.6 (44.43) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.1 | 7.9 | 9.7 | 10.5 | 11.6 | 12.9 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 12.4 | 12.2 | 10.3 | 11.9 | 130.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 78.5 | 83.6 | 85.3 | 88.9 | 90.8 | 91.4 | 91.4 | 91.4 | 85.4 | 82.6 | 76.4 | 76.3 | 85.2 |
| Source: NIWA Climate Data[8] | |||||||||||||
Gallery[]
View from Frazers Beach Reserve
Autumn view along Mararoa Drive with snow-dusted Mount Moturau in the distance
Manapouri commerce
Manapouri township from Lake Manapouri
References[]
- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029126.
- ^ "Manapouri, Southland - NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ Harding, Evan. "Tiwai aluminium smelter to stay open until end of 2024". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Mararoa
- ^ "Frazers Beach, Southland - NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ Neil Ratley (photo 11 of 12) (27 June 2012). "Snow adds to danger on roads". Stuff. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Climate Data and Activities". NIWA. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manapouri. |
- Fiordland
- Populated places in Southland, New Zealand
- Populated lakeshore places in New Zealand