Hari Hari

Hari Hari
Hende's Ferry Cottage, a historic building by the bank of the Wanganui River in Hari Hari
Coordinates: 43°9′0″S 170°33′43″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	West Coast
District	Westland District
Ward	Southern
Electorates	West Coast-Tasman Te Tai Tonga
Government
• Territorial Authority	Westland District Council
• Regional council	West Coast Regional Council
• Mayor of Westland	Helen Lash
• West Coast-Tasman MP	Maureen Pugh
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	50.43 km^2 (19.47 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	270
• Density	5.4/km^2 (14/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode	7884
Area code	03
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

The Willows Craft Cottage

Hari Hari (sometimes spelled Harihari) is a small rural settlement in the south west of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. It is slightly inland from the Tasman Sea and the Saltwater Lagoon and is situated between the Wanganui and Poerua Rivers, 45 minutes south of the tourist town of Hokitika. State Highway 6 passes through the town on its route from Ross to the Franz Josef Glacier. The Westland District's largest town, Greymouth is 110 kilometres (68 mi), and Hokitika 70 km (43 mi) to the north-east. Ross is 46 km (29 mi) to the north-east, and Franz Josef is 61.4 km south west.^[3][4]

Hari Hari was once a logging settlement and relics of a bush tramway that used to carry timber can be found in the area. Today, the forest in the area is protected and popular activities in the Hari Hari area include bushwalking, birdwatching, and trout and salmon fishing.

The Inter-Wanganui Co-op opened a dairy factory at Hari Hari in 1908,^[5] but it is now a ruin.^[6]

Hari Hari's main claim to fame occurred on 7 January 1931, when Australian aviator Guy Menzies landed upside down in a swamp near Hari Hari, completing the first solo flight across the Tasman Sea. Menzies, who had left Sydney 11 hours and 45 minutes earlier, was aiming for Blenheim but had been blown off course and mistook a swamp for flat pasture suitable for landing. Despite the accident, he was unharmed. On 7 January 2006, the 75th anniversary celebrations of the feat were held in Hari Hari, with roughly 400 people in attendance. To mark the occasion, Dick Smith recreated Guy Menzies' flight, though Smith chose to land upright in Hari Hari.^[7]

Local name change controversy

The name has a Maori meaning, from Te Aka Maori/English Dictionary, as "to take/carry joy" or, as local legend suggests, "come together in unison" from a Maori canoe paddling chant/song. Williams' dictionary gives "Harihari" as the correct spelling for that meaning.^[8] In recent years, Hari Hari has been increasingly referred to as "Harihari" with Maori meaning as "ambulance"^{[circular reference]}. No official statutory process has taken place in order for this to happen.

Many local residents are upset about the growing number of official websites, and official documentation, referring to Hari Hari as being "Harihari". The greater community insists that they were not informed or talked to about this matter, and are against the gradual unofficial change. Some are being active about keeping their town's name the same, and have involved the Department of Māori Affairs about the tampering with of a traditional Māori place name. Town signs around Hari Hari still state the name is Hari Hari. One newly placed town distance sign in Whataroa shows the name "Harihari".^[9]

The town was named in 1908 when a post office was needed for the township. Then named Harihari,^[10] the office was opened on 18 September 1908.^[11]

Demographics

Hari Hari is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 50.43 km² (19.47 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 270 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 5.4 people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Whataroa-Harihari statistical area.^[12]

Historical population for Hari Hari

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	264	—
2013	243	−1.18%
2018	240	−0.25%
Source: [13]

Hari Hari had a population of 240 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−1.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 24 people (−9.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 105 households, comprising 123 males and 120 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female, with 42 people (17.5%) aged under 15 years, 33 (13.8%) aged 15 to 29, 117 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (20.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.2% European/Pākehā, 10.0% Māori, 2.5% Pasifika, 2.5% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.8% had no religion, 30.0% were Christian and 2.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (12.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 63 (31.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 15 people (7.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 90 (45.5%) people were employed full-time, 39 (19.7%) were part-time, and 3 (1.5%) were unemployed.^[13]

Whataroa-Harihari statistical area

Whataroa-Harihari statistical area, which also includes Whataroa, covers 1,136.25 km² (438.71 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 740 as of June 2024,^[14] with a population density of 0.65 people per km².

Historical population for Whataroa-Harihari

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	753	—
2013	612	−2.92%
2018	642	+0.96%
Source: [15]

Whataroa-Harihari had a population of 642 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (4.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 111 people (−14.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 276 households, comprising 348 males and 297 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 40.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 147 people (22.9%) aged under 15 years, 96 (15.0%) aged 15 to 29, 300 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (15.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 87.4% European/Pākehā, 13.1% Māori, 5.6% Pasifika, 2.8% Asian, and 3.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.9% had no religion, 35.5% were Christian, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (11.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 129 (26.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 57 people (11.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 276 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 84 (17.0%) were part-time, and 12 (2.4%) were unemployed.^[15]

Education

South Westland Area School is a coeducational composite school (years 1–15), with a roll of 126 students as of November 2024.^[16][17] It opened in 1969, replacing Hari Hari School which had existed since 1865.^[18] The school has a satellite class at Franz Josef Glacier School.^[19]

There is also a University of Canterbury Field Station, "The Green Elephant".^[20]

Climate

Climate data for Hari Hari (1971–2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	20.4 (68.7)	21.2 (70.2)	19.9 (67.8)	17.5 (63.5)	15.0 (59.0)	12.7 (54.9)	12.5 (54.5)	13.3 (55.9)	14.3 (57.7)	15.7 (60.3)	17.0 (62.6)	19.2 (66.6)	16.6 (61.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	15.6 (60.1)	16.0 (60.8)	14.6 (58.3)	12.1 (53.8)	9.2 (48.6)	6.7 (44.1)	6.4 (43.5)	7.5 (45.5)	9.3 (48.7)	11.0 (51.8)	12.4 (54.3)	14.5 (58.1)	11.3 (52.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	10.7 (51.3)	10.8 (51.4)	9.2 (48.6)	6.6 (43.9)	3.3 (37.9)	0.8 (33.4)	0.2 (32.4)	1.8 (35.2)	4.3 (39.7)	6.3 (43.3)	7.8 (46.0)	9.8 (49.6)	6.0 (42.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	480.8 (18.93)	265.9 (10.47)	443.2 (17.45)	285.1 (11.22)	257.8 (10.15)	320.8 (12.63)	370.7 (14.59)	202.7 (7.98)	294.2 (11.58)	339.6 (13.37)	364.5 (14.35)	540.6 (21.28)	4,165.9 (164)
Source: CliFlo (rain 1981–2010)[21]

References

1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
2. "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 74. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
4. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 164. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
5. "Inter-Wanganui Co-op dairy factory opening". University of Canterbury library. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
6. "Inter-Wanganui Co-op Dairy Co". Panoramio. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
7. "Dick Smith recreates first solo trans-Tasman flight". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 January 2006.
8. Williams, H. W. Dictionary of the Maori Language GP Publications Limited, Wellington, Seventh edition, 1971; 1992 reprint, p.38; "harihari, n. Song to make people pull together"
9. Brown, Giles (2 January 2009). "Coasters testy over township's name". The Press. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012.
10. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT19081015.2.4 ^{[bare URL]}
11. Collins, R. J. G. and Watts, C.W. (editors). The Postage Stamps of New Zealand, Vol. III. The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand Incorporated, Wellington, New Zealand, 1955, p. 574
12. 2018 Census place summary: Whataroa-Harihari
13. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023814 and 7023815.
14. "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
15. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Whataroa-Harihari (311900). 2018 Census place summary: Whataroa-Harihari
16. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
17. Education Counts: South Westland Area School
18. "Home". South Westland Area School. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
19. "Supplementary Review Report: South Westland Area School". Education Review Office. May 2006.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
20. Harihari Field Station Archived 15 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Canterbury.ac.nz.
21. "CliFlo – National Climate Database : Harihari N.Z.F.S." NIWA. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

External links

• South Westland Area School website