Carters Beach

Carters Beach is a suburb of Westport on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Located 6 kilometres (4 mi) west of Westport on State Highway 67A,[3] it offers a pristine sheltered sandy beach on the West Coast suitable for swimming.[4] From the Buller River jetty at the east end of Carters Beach, west to Cape Foulwind, the beach runs for more than 9 uninterrupted kilometres.

Carters Beach
Coastal settlement
Carters Beach at low tide
Carters Beach at low tide
Coordinates: 41°44′52.8″S 171°33′43.2″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictBuller District
WardWestport
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityBuller District Council
 • Regional councilWest Coast Regional Council
 • Mayor of BullerJamie Cleine
 • West Coast-Tasman MPMaureen Pugh
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total0.59 km2 (0.23 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total310
 • Density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)

Carters Beach is occasionally used by naturists for nude sunbathing.[5] New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur".[6]

The Kawatiri Coastal Trail is under construction and was expected to be completed in 2021,[7] since delayed to 2024.[8] The bike trail will connect Westport to Carters Beach, and continue south to Charleston. In Carters Beach, it passes through wetlands, past the golf course, and through the domain (public park) as it winds its way south.[9]

An 18-hole golf course[10] and Westport Airport[11] are located near the town.[4] Erosion along Rotary Road in 2018 resulted in the closure of the beachside road and threatened the possible closure of the nearby airport.[12] However, in 2020 the road along the beach to the west side of the Buller River mouth was rebuilt as a bike and pedestrian path. Granite rock has been piled along the beach to prevent further erosion and impact to the airport.

The town offers accommodations and a restaurant.

Carters Beach was named after an early settler who farmed the area in the late 1800s.[4]

Demographics

Carters Beach is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 0.59 km2 (0.23 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 310 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 525 people per km2. It is part of the larger Westport Rural statistical area.[13]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006294—    
2013336+1.93%
2018330−0.36%
Source: [14]
Carters Beach Domain looking northeast

Carters Beach had a population of 330 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−1.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 36 people (12.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 141 households, comprising 174 males and 156 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.12 males per female, with 72 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 18 (5.5%) aged 15 to 29, 150 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 90 (27.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.6% European/Pākehā, 12.7% Māori, 0.9% Pasifika, 1.8% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.0% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, and 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 36 (14.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 63 (24.4%) people had no formal qualifications. 39 people (15.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 111 (43.0%) people were employed full-time, 51 (19.8%) were part-time, and 6 (2.3%) were unemployed.[14]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  2. "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. "Carters Beach". cartersbythesea.co.nz. Carters By the Sea Motel.
  4. Nathan, Simon (23 February 2009). "West Coast places". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  5. "Naturist Beaches - Rest of South". FreeBeaches NZ. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. Ceramalus v Police, AP No 76/91 (High Court of New Zealand 5 July 1991).
  7. "Kawatiri Coastal Trail". Archived from the original on 6 April 2017.
  8. "Home - Kawatiri Coastal Trail". kawatiricoastaltrail.co.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. "Kawatiri Coastal Trail Map – Westport to Charleston, West Coast". Kawatiri Coastal Trail. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  10. "My Homepage". Westport Golf Club. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  11. "Buller District Council, New Zealand » Airport". Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  12. Redmond, Adele (3 February 2018). "Storm accelerates coastal erosion at Carters Beach". Stuff.co.nz.
  13. 2018 Census place summary: Westport Rural
  14. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023598 and 7023599.

41°45′S 171°34′E

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