# Thames-Coromandel District

The Thames-Coromandel District is a territorial authority district in the North Island of New Zealand, covering all the Coromandel Peninsula and extending south to Hikutaia.
It is administered by the Thames-Coromandel District Council, which has its seat in the town of Thames. It was the first district council to be formed in New Zealand, being constituted in 1975. The district lies within the Waikato Regional Council area. Its only land boundary is with Hauraki District.

## Demographics

The district had a population of 33,300 in June 2024. 7,440 live in Thames, 6,540 in Whitianga, 4,420 in Whangamatā, and 1,870 in Coromandel. It covers 2,207.59 km$^2$ (852.36 sq mi) and had a population density of 15.1 people per km$^2$.
Thames-Coromandel District had a population of 31,995 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,100 people (7.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 5,817 people (22.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 15,729 males, 16,182 females and 87 people of other genders in 13,557 dwellings. 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 55.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 4,365 people (13.6%) aged under 15 years, 3,528 (11.0%) aged 15 to 29, 13,284 (41.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 10,821 (33.8%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.4% European (Pākehā); 18.8% Māori; 2.5% Pasifika; 3.6% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori language by 3.9%, Samoan by 0.2% and other languages by 6.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 28.0% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.8%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 3,582 (13.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 15,453 (55.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 7,461 (27.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,848 people (6.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 9,969 (36.1%) people were employed full-time, 4,404 (15.9%) were part-time, and 645 (2.3%) were unemployed.
Individual wards :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Coromandel-Colville Ward | 560.29 | 3,345 | 6.0 | 1,353 | 55.1 years | $27,800 |
| Mercury Bay Ward | 709.67 | 10,134 | 14.3 | 4,329 | 53.4 years | $31,900 |
| Thames Ward | 473.19 | 10,737 | 22.7 | 4,425 | 54.5 years | $29,400 |
| South East Ward | 464.44 | 7,779 | 16.7 | 3,450 | 59.1 years | $30,800 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |

## Local government

The Thames-Coromandel District Council was formed from the amalgamation of the Thames Borough, Thames County and Coromandel County councils in 1975, and is led by the Mayor of Thames-Coromandel.

### History

In 1923, the constituent counties included -
| | area | population | gravel roads | mud roads | tracks |
| Coromandel County | 440 sq mi (1,100 km$^2$) | 2,120 | 42 mi (68 km) | 74 mi (119 km) | 189 mi (304 km) |
| Thames County | 413 sq mi (1,070 km$^2$) | 5,373 | 52 mi (84 km) | 26 mi (42 km) | 155 mi (249 km) |
| Thames Borough | 3,670 acres (14.9 km$^2$) | 4,765 | | | |
| Totals | 2,185 km$^2$ (844 sq mi) | 12,258 | | | |