Carters Beach
Carters Beach is occasionally used by naturists for nude sunbathing. New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur".
The Kawatiri Coastal Trail is under construction and was expected to be completed in 2021, since delayed to 2024. The bike trail will connect Westport to Carters Beach, and continue south to Charleston. In Carters Beach, it passes through wetlands, past the golf course, and through the domain (public park) as it winds its way south.
An 18-hole golf course and Westport Airport are located near the town. Erosion along Rotary Road in 2018 resulted in the closure of the beachside road and threatened the possible closure of the nearby airport. However, in 2020 the road along the beach to the west side of the Buller River mouth was rebuilt as a bike and pedestrian path. Granite rock has been piled along the beach to prevent further erosion and impact to the airport.
The town offers accommodations and a restaurant.
Carters Beach was named after an early settler who farmed the area in the late 1800s.
Demographics
Carters Beach is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 0.59 km (0.23 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 310 as of June 2023, with a population density of 525 people per km. It is part of the larger Westport Rural statistical area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 294 | — |
| 2013 | 336 | +1.93% |
| 2018 | 330 | −0.36% |
| Source: | ||
Carters Beach had a population of 330 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−1.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 36 people (12.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 141 households, comprising 174 males and 156 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.12 males per female, with 72 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 18 (5.5%) aged 15 to 29, 150 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 90 (27.3%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 93.6% European/Pākehā, 12.7% Māori, 0.9% Pasifika, 1.8% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.0% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, and 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs.
Of those at least 15 years old, 36 (14.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 63 (24.4%) people had no formal qualifications. 39 people (15.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 111 (43.0%) people were employed full-time, 51 (19.8%) were part-time, and 6 (2.3%) were unemployed.