Ruby Bay

Ruby Bay is a settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's upper South Island. It is located between Māpua and Tasman on Te Mamaku / Ruby Bay.^[3] Ruby Bay was named after small 'rubies' (red chert) found within the moutere gravel.^[4]

Ruby Bay
Rural settlement
The view from Ruby Bay beach across Tasman Bay to Nelson and the Barnicoat Range.
Coordinates: 41.236°S 173.083°E / -41.236; 173.083
Country	New Zealand
Territorial authority	Tasman
Ward	Moutere-Waimea Ward
Electorates	West Coast-Tasman Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Tasman District Council
• Mayor of Tasman	Tim King
• West Coast-Tasman MP	Maureen Pugh
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	4.83 km2 (1.86 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	820
• Density	170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	7005, 7173
Area code	03

Demographics

Ruby Bay is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 4.83 km² (1.86 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 820 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 170 people per km². Before the 2023 census, it was part of the larger Ruby Bay-Māpua SA2 statistical area.^[5]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	555	—
2013	621	+1.62%
2018	678	+1.77%
Source: [6]

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 2.96 km² (1.14 sq mi).^[1] Using that boundary, Ruby Bay had a population of 678 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (9.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 123 people (22.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 249 households, comprising 327 males and 351 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female, with 105 people (15.5%) aged under 15 years, 66 (9.7%) aged 15 to 29, 330 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 171 (25.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.1% European/Pākehā, 6.2% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.4% had no religion, 27.9% were Christian, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 183 (31.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 75 (13.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 138 people (24.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 237 (41.4%) people were employed full-time, 93 (16.2%) were part-time, and 9 (1.6%) were unemployed.^[6]