Gore District, New Zealand

Gore District is a municipality in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand.

Gore District
Territorial authority
Location of the Gore District within the South Island
CountryNew Zealand
RegionSouthland
DistrictGore District
WardsGore
Mataura
Kaiwera-Waimumu
Waikaka
Formed1989
SeatGore
Government
 • MayorTracy Hicks
Area
 • Total1,251.62 km2 (483.25 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2019)[1]
 • Total12,800
 • Density10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
Map of postcodes
WebsiteGore District Council

Geography

The Gore District is located in the south of the South Island. The two neighbouring districts are Southland in the west and Clutha in the east. The district has a land area of 1,251.62 square kilometres (483.25 sq mi). The seat of the district council is in the town of Gore.[2] The district has a population of 12,800 (June 2019)[1]

Towns and localities
Romney ram statue in Gore

Gore is the main centre of Gore District. Other places in the district include the following, based on wards:

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200612,108—    
201312,033−0.09%
201812,396+0.60%
Source: [3]

Gore District had a population of 12,396 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 363 people (3.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 288 people (2.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 5,076 households. There were 6,153 males and 6,246 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. Of the total population, 2,373 people (19.1%) were aged up to 15 years, 2,079 (16.8%) were 15 to 29, 5,439 (43.9%) were 30 to 64, and 2,508 (20.2%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.

Ethnicities were 89.0% European/Pākehā, 12.9% Māori, 1.1% Pacific peoples, 3.1% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 47.2% had no religion, 43.2% were Christian, and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,008 (10.1%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 2,883 (28.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,900. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 5,121 (51.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,539 (15.4%) were part-time, and 261 (2.6%) were unemployed.[3]

History

The European history of Gore started in 1855 with the arrival of Scottish settlers.[2] After the town site was surveyed, the provincial superintendent, James Alexander Robertson Menzies, named the site for his friend, the Governor of New Zealand, Thomas Gore Browne. The original name of the township, Long Ford or Longford, remained for some time, but when the railway reached the town, the shorter name became common and was also applied to the wider district.[4] The township of Gore was incorporated and became a borough council in 1885.[5]

In the local government reform in 1989, the Gore and Mataura borough councils and parts of Southland County Council were amalgamated to form Gore District.[2]

Governance

The district council is headed by a mayor who is elected at large and complemented by eleven councillors from various wards. Five councillors represent the Gore ward, one councillor each represents the Mataura, Kaiwera-Waimumu, and Waikaka wards, and there is one further district-wide ward that is represented by three councillors.[6] The current mayor, Tracy Hicks, was first elected in the 2004 local elections. He replaced Owen O'Connor who retired in 2004.[7]

Current body

As of 2019, the current council members are:-

Mayor Tracy Hicks JP
Councillors – Gore District Council Bronwyn Reid
Nicky Davis
Dough Grant
Bret Highsted
Cliff Bolger
Glenys Dickson
Nick Grant
Neville Phillips
John Gardyne
Richard McPhail
Stewart MacDonell
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gollark: Oh no, did they give them permissions?!

References
  1. "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2019". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. "District Information". Gore District Council. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  3. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Gore District (074). 2018 Census place summary: Gore District
  4. Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 143. ISBN 9780143204107.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1905). "Gore". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  6. "Mayor & Councillors". Gore District Council. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  7. "Mayoral Election Results 2004 Affecting the Mayors Taskforce For Jobs". Mayors Taskforce for Jobs. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
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