Talk:Thames, New Zealand

Population

How can it be true that "Thames never shrank" if it's population today is a little over a half it was in 1868? What constitutes shrinking if a population reduction from 18k to 10k does not? --Tireoghain2 13:23, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

I assume the post refers to the area of land the town occupies. But even then I don't believe the numbers are correct --Enzown 09:43, 5 December 2006

Claims of a larger population of 10,000 (if Tararu, Totara and Kopu included) were wrong. Tararu and Totara are already included in the NZ Stats Area Units of Moanataiari and Parawai (respectively). Kopu is not included as it is part of the large Hikuai Area Unit - which has a total population of 3252 as of the 2006 census. See Excel sheet of Hauraki District population by Area Unit and Interactive Statistical Area Unit Maps. Fanx (talk) 21:46, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

A wee while ago, back in 2004, @Grutness: added to the stubby article, changing the peak population figure from "20,000 in the mid 1800's" (added by the anon who created the article) to the more specific "18,000 in 1868".[1]. Various editors modified that over the years, and included the claim it was the largest or second largest city in the country. I've looked for sources and not found anything reliable. The census figures for 1871 showed less than 12,000 (excluding Māori), and the subsequent census figures were lower. I couldn't find the figures for the 1867 census. I have replaced the unsourced figures and claims with the census populations, but if anyone has a suitable source, feel free to revert my edit and add your source instead.-gadfium 22:37, 6 December 2020 (UTC)

Given that I can't even remember what I had for dinner last night, I doubt I could locate the 2004 source again! Given how specific it is though, it's not something just conjured out of thin air. The 1871 figure clearly shows that the population has shrunk, though. Grutness...wha? 01:54, 7 December 2020 (UTC)

• Does this help?

Name of District.	Men	Women	Children	Total	Employed.	Unemployed	Estimated number Destitute.
Shortland, north of Hape Creek...	1,057	643	1,038	2.738	927	116	0
Grahamstown	895	432	638	2,007	736	156	0
Parawai to Hape Creek, Shortland, and to Karaka Creek on Goldfield	836	392	707	1,935	692	144	6
From Karaka Creek to Moanataiari Creek	1,700	565	934	3,199	1,214	486	5
From Moanataiari Creek to five } No. 1	668	126	264	1,058	457	211	2
miles below Tararu ... } No. 2	708	164	325	1,197	598	110	0
Hastings	163	53	144	362	165	0	0
Totals	6,029	2,375	4,050	12,496	4,789	1,223	13

Johnragla (talk) 03:27, 7 December 2020 (UTC)

Thanks @Johnragla:. The important thing in that article, I think, is "Thus, the total goldfield population, exclusive of Coromandel, Kennedy's Bay, Ohinemuri, and the various sawing stations, appears to be 12,496 ; but we think that at least 15,000 may be set down as the gross total." This acknowledgement that the actual counts are not very accurate certainly lends credibility to the population having been 18,000 two years earlier. Would the 2,500 difference be the Māori population? If no further information can be found, I'll add this to the article, and partially reinstate the claim as "Thames was the one of the largest centres of population in New Zealand at the end of the 1860s, with an estimated population of 15,000 in 1870." -gadfium 04:20, 7 December 2020 (UTC)

• 1,428 in 1859 - https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/fenton-observations-aboriginal-inhabitants-nz/fenton-observations-aboriginal-inhabitants-nz.html?_ga=2.121676811.1641771531.1607317145-1553930732.1594919571 Johnragla (talk) 05:12, 7 December 2020 (UTC)

I'll include that.-gadfium 08:07, 7 December 2020 (UTC)

I've moved the detail into the body of the article, and incorporated Johnragla's sources. Thanks for the help.-gadfium 01:49, 10 December 2020 (UTC)

References