Aria, New Zealand
Aria is a rural community in the Waitomo District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. The area experienced severe flooding in September 2017. History. Aria began in 1904, when some 30 blocks of around were given under the Homestead Acts. Four small mines produced 53,000 tons from Aria coalfield between 1917 and 1961. To the east of Aria a lime quarry opened in the 1960s. A new post office opened in 1922 and there was a butter factory from about 1911. Demographics. The Aria statistical area, which at 532 square kilometres is much larger  than the community and includes Piopio, 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. There were 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 (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). The proportion of people born overseas was 8.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.1% had no religion, 25.1% were Christian, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 5.8% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 126 (13.0%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 225 (23.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,900, compared with $31,800  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. Aria community is in meshblocks 1014500, 1014600, 1014900 and 1015000, which had a population of 129 in the 2018 census. Education. Aria School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of The school was established in 1908.