Coromandel, (Māori: Kapanga), also called Coromandel City to distinguish it from the wider area, is a city in Coromandel Harbor, on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula, on the North Island of New Zealand. It is 75 kilometers east of the city of Auckland, although the road between them, which winds around the Thames Bay and the Hauraki Gulf coast, is 190 km long. The population as of June 2023 was 1930 people.
The city was named after HMS Coromandel, which entered the harbor in 1820. At one time, Coromandel Harbor was a major port serving the gold mining and sulphur industries of the region. Today, the main industries of the city are tourism and mussel farming.
Coromandel Harbor is a wide bay in the Gulf of Hauraki guarded by several islands, the largest of which is Wanganui Island. The city and its surroundings are a popular summer vacation destination for New Zealanders. The city of Coromandel is known for its artists, crafts, alternative lifestyle lovers, mussel farming and recreational fishing. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Driving Creek Railway.
Modern history
The government’s original plan for the city of Coromandel was to build it on Wanganui Island. Plans were drawn up and sections were sold, but the plan proved unsuccessful, in part because the land was too steep and there was no suitable source of fresh water. Most of the sections were abandoned and bought by the state. The city was then founded where it is today.
Demographics
Coromandel covers an area of 10.89 km2 (4.20 sq mi) and as of June 2023, its population was 1930 people with a population density of 177 people per km2.
According to the 2018 New Zealand Census, there were 1743 people living in Coromandel, an increase of 225 people (14.8%) compared to the 2013 Census and 249 people (16.7%) compared to the 2006 Census. There were 720 households, consisting of 852 men and 891 women, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 men to women. The median age was 52.5 years (compared to 37.4 years in the country), with 258 people (14.8%) under the age of 15, 243 (13.9%) between 15 and 29, 732 (42.0%) between 30 and 64, and 510 (29.3%). %) were aged 65 years and older.
Ethnicity was 83.1% European/Pākehā, 29.9% Māori, 2.2% Pacific, 3.3% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicity. People can identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born abroad was 16.0% compared to 27.1% in the country.
While some people chose not to answer the census question on religious affiliation, 59.2% had no religion, 26.0% were Christian, 3.1% had Maori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 1.5% were Buddhist, and 2.4% had other religion beliefs.
Of those at least 15 years of age, 192 (12.9%) had a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 360 (24.2%) had no formal qualifications. The average income was USD 23,500, compared to USD 31,800 in the country. 132 people (8.9%) earned more than USD 70,000, compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of these at least 15 people was such that 555 (37.4%) were employed full-time, 249 (16.8%) were employed part-time and 39 (2.6%) were unemployed.