A study on rural settlements - Rural decline in New Zealand

A case study of rural settlement: Ohura, New Zealand

·      Ohuru is in King Country near Taumarunui

·      Population 150

·      Between 2005-2006 the population declined 3.5%

·      It has a cosmopolitan club and a school

·      Coal mine closed (though another may open with resource content)

·      Prison shut down and is now a backpackers

·      Dairy shut down after prison closed as it struggled to make ends meet

·      Jobs lost at mine after it was closed by the government

·      About 12 left at the primary school

2001:

·      Male bias from prison

·      20.3% are under 15

·      5.1% are over 65

·      25% have a post high school qualification

·      Mostly Maori and European

·      Median income of $10900

·      Unemployment rate 14.3%

·      42 families

·      73% have access to telephones

·      Average weekly rent payment in $60

2006:

·      Decrease of 57 people

·      Female to male ratio about equal

·      Percentage of European increases

·      Only 4% are from overseas

·      Unemployment rate down to 9.1%

·      Average income rose to $11500

·      Access to telephones dropped to 72%