Kumara, New Zealand

Infobox Settlement
name = Kumara
population_total = 315
population_as_of = 2006
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = New Zealand
subdivision_type1= Region
subdivision_name1= West Coast
subdivision_type2= District
subdivision_name2= Westland District
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = right
latd = 42
latm = 37
lats = 52
latNS = S
longd = 171
longm = 11
longs = 13
longEW = E

Kumara is a town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 30 kilometres south of Greymouth, close to the western end of State Highway 73, which leads across Arthur's Pass to Christchurch. The Taramakau River flows past to the north. [cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|id=ISBN 0-7900-0952-8|author=Peter Dowling (editor)|publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 69] [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 156]

The population was 405 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 9 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 - Westland District|publisher=Statistics New Zealand] .

The name may come from the Māori language Kohe mara, which is the blossom of the tātarāmoa, or bush lawyer.

The Coast to Coast annual multisport race starts at Kumara. [cite web|url=http://www.west-coast.co.nz/Tourism_West_Coast/Kumara_IDL=6_IDT=1452_ID=10959_.html|title=Tourism West Coast: Kumara|accessdate=2008-08-12]

History

Kumara was founded and become one of the country's chief gold mining centres following the discovery of gold at Dillmanstown, about convert|2|mi to the south-east, in 1876. The tramline from Greymouth to Paroa was extended to Kumara the following year. The population was 4,220 in October 1877. The town became a borough in 1877.cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/K/KumaraWestland/KumaraWestland/en|title=Kumara, Westland|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)] Kumara Hospital was operating by 1881 [cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WCT18810806.2.11|title=Kumara Hospital|publisher=West Coast Times|date=6 August 1881|page=2] and continued into the twentieth century. [cite book|title=Illustrated History of the West Coast|first=Anna|last=Rogers|year=2005|isbn=0-7900-1022-4|page=113] In 1882, the Kumara volunteer fire brigade was formed. [Rogers, p 115]

Kumara was the home town of prominent politician Richard Seddon, who was elected mayor of the town in 1877, [Rogers, pp 71-72] and served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1893 until his death in 1906.

In 1925, the manager of Pearns Hotel in Kumara was charged by police after she refused to supply accommodation to two visiting temperance lecturers. [cite web|url=http://www.hanz.org.nz/index.cfm/about_hanz/100_Years_of_Hospitality/Tales_from_past1|title=Tales from the Past - a look at the history of HANZ |first=Bill|last=Brien|accessdate=2008-08-13] The Pearn's Brewery became part of Westland Ales around this time. [Rogers, p 160]

Education

Kumara School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 26. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=3401|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Kumara School|publisher=Ministry of Education] The school celebrated 120 years of education in the district in 1997. [cite journal|url=http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/notices.php/notices.php?action=view&id=54371|title=Jubilees & reunions: Goldfields Schools|journal=Education Gazette New Zealand|volume=76|issue=9|date=26 May 1997]

Notes