The area experienced severe flooding in September 2017.[2][3]
History
Āria began in 1904, when some 30 blocks of around 200 acres (81 ha)[4] were given under the Homestead Acts.[5] Four small mines produced 53,000 tons from Aria coalfield between 1917 and 1961.[6] To the east of Āria[7] a lime quarry opened in the 1960s.[8] A new post office opened in 1922[9] and there was a butter factory[10] from about 1911.[11]
Demographics
Āria statistical area, which also includes Piopio, covers 531.76 km2 (205.31 sq mi)[12] and had an estimated population of 1,340 as of June 2024,[13] with a population density of 2.5 people per km2.
Āria had a population of 1,290 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 96 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 69 people (−5.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 462 households, comprising 654 males and 636 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 324 people (25.1%) aged under 15 years, 237 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (44.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 165 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 76.5% European/Pākehā, 36.3% Māori, 1.4% Pacific peoples, 1.4% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 8.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.1% had no religion, 25.1% were Christian, 4.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 126 (13.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 225 (23.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 108 people (11.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 513 (53.1%) people were employed full-time, 210 (21.7%) were part-time, and 30 (3.1%) were unemployed.[14]
Āria community is in meshblocks 1014500, 1014600, 1014900 and 1015000, which had a population of 129 in the 2018 census.[15]
Education
Āria School is a co-educational state primary school,[16][17] with a roll of 47 as of November 2024.[18][19] The school was established in 1908.[20]
