Reefton

Infobox Settlement
name = Reefton
population_total = 948
population_as_of = 2006
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = New Zealand
subdivision_type1= Region
subdivision_name1= West Coast
subdivision_type2= District
subdivision_name2= Buller District
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = top
latd = 42
latm = 6
lats = 55
latNS = S
longd = 171
longm = 51
longs = 47
longEW = E

The small town of Reefton is located in New Zealand's West Coast region, some 80 kilometres northeast of Greymouth, in the valley of the Inangahua River. State Highway 7 passes through the southern part of the town, and State Highway 69 runs north to connect up with State Highway 6. Ahaura is 44 km south-west of Reefton, Inangahua Junction is 34 km to the north, Maruia is 63 km to the east, and the Lewis Pass is 66 km to the south-east. [cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|id=ISBN 0-7900-0952-8|author=Peter Dowling (editor)|publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 64] [cite book|title=The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand|year=2005|id=ISBN 1-877333-20-4|author=Roger Smith, GeographX|publisher=Robbie Burton|pages=map 149]

One feature of historical note about Reefton is that it was the first town in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere to receive electricity, in 1888."New Zealand Historical Atlas" - McKinnon, Malcolm (Editor); David Bateman, 1997, Plate 88] Soon after, its streets were lit by commercial electric power, generated by a water-driven steel turbine.

The population was 948 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 39 from 2001. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/final-counts/west-coast-region.htm|title=Final counts – census night and census usually resident populations, and occupied dwellings - Buller District|publisher=Statistics New Zealand]

Industry

It is still a gold and coal mining town, coal, forestry, tourism and angling make up the main industries of Reefton today. The rich veins of gold found in a quartz reef near the town led to its name, and also its former name of "Quartzopolis". Gold was discovered near the town in 1866, although the major discovery did not come until 1870. Shortly thereafter the town briefly boasted a population of several thousand. Today the population stands at a little over a thousand. However, with the opening of a new internationally owned goldmine the population is expected to grow by several hundred in the near future.

Railways

Reefton is located on the Stillwater - Westport Line railway, which diverges from the Midland Line in Stillwater. On 29 February 1892, the line was opened to Reefton, but it terminated on the southern bank of the Inangahua River opposite the town. Early in the 20th century, a bridge was built across the river and the present-day station established in Reefton. The line was opened beyond Reefton to Cronadun in 1908, but it was not until 5 December 1943 that the line officially became a through route to Westport, though trains had been operating the length of the line since July 1942. On 3 August 1936, a railcar passenger service began operating in the morning between Hokitika and Reefton utilising small Leyland diesel railcars, but low patronage meant this service ceased to operate all the way to Reefton in August 1938. In the early 1940s, much larger Vulcan railcars were introduced to New Zealand and they provided two services to Reefton: one local service from Greymouth that terminated in Reefton, and a service that ran between Westport and Stillwater to connect with the West Coast Express. In 1967, all passenger services through Reefton ceased. Today, the primary traffic on the railway is coal, with multiple coal trains operating daily.

Timeline

* 1866 - Gold discovered
* 1888 - Town electricity
* 1892 - Railway line opens.
* 1908 - line to Cronadun opened.
* 1912 - Reefton “lock out” [cite_book |title=Maoriland Worker” 1/11/1912, p9]
* 1967 - Rail passenger services cease.

Education

The first state school in Reefton was founded in 1878, and there were once 24 schools in the area. [cite web|url=http://hometown.co.nz/downloads/School%20Closures%20.pdf|format=PDF|title=District School Reunion|year=2003]

Reefton Area School is a composite (years 1-15) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 238. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=496|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Reefton Area School|publisher=Ministry of Education] Reefton School and Inangahua College merged to form Reefton Area School in 2004. [cite web|url=http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/schooling/directories/?a=7771|title=School Mergers, Closures and New Schools|year=2004|format=XLS|publisher=Education Counts] Sacred Heart School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 47. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=3219|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Sacred Heart School, Reefton|Sacred Heart School|publisher=Ministry of Education] It is a state integrated Catholic school. [Cite web|url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/ero eppub.nsf/Institution/5B65C7A6FD80AC10CC2573D900061156/$File/3219.htm|title=Education Review Report: Sacred Heart School|date=December 2007|publisher=Education Review Office] Both schools are coeducational.

References

External links

* [http://doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=36463 Department of Conservation] - Reefton short walks
* [http://www.ras.school.nz/ Reefton Area School]