Waimangaroa

{{Short description|Town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Waimangaroa

|image_skyline = Denniston Road Scenic Reserve.jpg

|image_caption = Denniston Road Scenic Reserve

|area_total_km2 = 1.58

|area_footnotes =

|population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}

|population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}

|population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Waimangaroa|y}}

|population_density_km2 = auto

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = New Zealand

|subdivision_type1 = Region

|subdivision_name1 = West Coast

|subdivision_type2 = District

|subdivision_name2 = Buller District

|subdivision_type3 = Ward

|subdivision_name3 = Seddon

|seat_type = Electorates

|seat = {{ubl|West Coast-Tasman|Te Tai Tonga}}

|leader_title = Territorial Authority

|leader_name = Buller District Council

|leader_title1 = Regional council

|leader_name1 = West Coast Regional Council

|leader_title2 = Mayor of Buller

|leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Buller District Mayor|y}}

|leader_title3 = West Coast-Tasman MP

|leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|West Coast-Tasman MP|y}}

|leader_title4 = Te Tai Tonga MP

|leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}}

|image_map = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|41|42|46|S|171|45|46|E}}|zoom=9}}

|coordinates = {{coord|41|42|46|S|171|45|46|E|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

}}

Waimangaroa is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand.

The township lies on the south-west bank of the Waimangaroa River, at the western foot of the Denniston Plateau. It is {{convert|17|km|mi|0}} to the north east of Westport and 13 km south-east of Granity. The abandoned coaltown of Denniston is about {{convert|5|km|mi|1}} to the south-east.{{cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|isbn=0-7900-0952-8|editor=Peter Dowling |publisher=Reed Books|at=map 63}}{{cite book|title=The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand|year=2005|isbn=1-877333-20-4|author=Roger Smith, GeographX|publisher=Robbie Burton|at=map 141}} The Bridle Track, a scenic bush track, leads south-east along the Denniston Incline into the foothills of the Mt William Range, to Denniston.{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=36476|title=Denniston walking tracks|publisher=Department of Conservation|accessdate=18 July 2008}} The Stockton mine, a large open cast coal mine, is operated in the vicinity by Solid Energy.{{cite web|url=http://www.coalnz.com/index.cfm/1,203,0,49,html|title=Stockton (Opencast)|publisher=Solid Energy|accessdate=18 July 2008}}

The Ngakawau Branch, a branch line railway, runs through the town. It opened to Waimangaroa on 5 August 1876; it formerly ran to Seddonville but now terminates in Ngakawau. From 1877 until 1967, Waimangaroa was also the junction for the Conns Creek Branch, which ran east alongside the Waimangaroa River to the foot of the Denniston Incline. Passenger services ceased on the Conns Creek Branch in 1931 and Ngakawau Branch on 14 October 1946. Since this time, the railway through Waimangaroa has almost solely conveyed coal.

The beaches to the west have dangerous currents and are not safe for swimming.{{cite book|title=The Companion Guide to Westland|first=Errol|last=Brathwaite|year=1981|isbn=0-00-216967-3|page=80|publisher=Collins|location=Auckland}}