Kiripaka

The statistical area of Kiripaka, which at 72 square kilometres is much larger than this locality, had a population of 993 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (11.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 276 people (38.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 333 households. There were 498 males and 495 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. Of the total population, 228 people (23.0%) were aged up to 15 years, 114 (11.5%) were 15 to 29, 513 (51.7%) were 30 to 64, and 141 (14.2%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.

Ethnicities were 85.2% European/Pākehā, 22.7% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 2.1% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.0% had no religion, 29.9% were Christian, and 4.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 168 (22.0%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 114 (14.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,400. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 411 (53.7%) people were employed full-time, 132 (17.3%) were part-time, and 36 (4.7%) were unemployed.[2]

A coal mine was opened at Kiripaka in 1893[3] and produced "first-class steam coal".[4] A second mine was opened across the river in 1899.[5] One of the mines closed in late 1904, as it was no longer profitable.[6] The remaining mine was closed in 1912 in response to miners taking a day off to support the Waihi miners' strike.[7] The mine reopened at the end of 1914[8] although coal output didn't begin until August 1915.[9] After industrial disputes and flooding, the mine closed permanently in June 1921[10] although fire clay was extracted from 1923[11] and there was some further coal mining at the end of the decade.[12]