Granity

Infobox Settlement
name = Granity
population_total = 219
population_as_of = 2006
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = New Zealand
subdivision_type1= Region
subdivision_name1= West Coast
subdivision_type2= District
subdivision_name2= Buller District
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = top
latd = 41
latm = 37
lats = 47
latNS = S
longd = 171
longm = 51
longs = 13
longEW = E

Granity is a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, located 28 kilometres north-east of Westport on State Highway 67. Karamea is 68 kilometres further 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 62] [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 134]

Lying in lush forested countryside between the Tasman Sea to the west and steep mountains to the east, the town is the largest in this sparsely populated part of New Zealand. Long known as a coal mining town, the population has declined as the industry has waned. The population was 219 in the 2006 Census, a decline of 24 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 - Buller District|publisher=Statistics New Zealand] . Several neighbouring towns, such as Denniston, have become virtually ghost towns.

The name Granity was given to the town by gold prospectors, in reference to the large quantity of granite in the area. [cite book | first=A. W. | last=Reed | title=The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names | publisher=Reed Books | location=Auckland | year=2002 | id=ISBN 0-7900-0761-4]

Education

Granity School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 47. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=3192|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Granity School|publisher=Ministry of Education]

References

*reflist

External links

* [http://www.granity-nz.com/ Granity website]