GRANITY Granity is included in the town synopsis because the ‘bustout’ criteria has been met. But this very small township some 30k nth of Westport. You will pass through Granity on the way to Karamea. The history of this area is tied fully to coal mining. An industry that for a full century was the economic driver of what was a bustling and exciting era. This commentary from Wikipedia best sums up Granity:- ‘Lying in lush forested countryside between the Tasman Sea to the west and steep mountains to the east, the town is the largest in this sparsely populated part of New Zealand. Long known as a coal mining town, the population has declined as the industry has waned. The population was 216 in the 2006 Census, a decline of 27 from 2001. Several neighboring towns, such as Denniston, have become virtually ghost towns. The name Granity was given to the town by gold prospectors, in reference to the large quantity of granite in the area.’ The provision of services has declined with the current demographic profile. Granity still has a Hotel, an active church, a museum and a War Memorial. Eccentricity has emerged as a folklore factor for Granity.