Kaitangata is a town near the coast of South Otago, New Zealand, on the left bank of the Matau Branch of the Clutha River ten kilometres south east of Balclutha. The town is known to its residents simply as Kai. In June 2016 the town gained international attention when new low cost housing was offered there, and local mayor of Clutha District, Bryan Cadogan, estimated there were 100-1000 job vacancies in the region; the news was carried by The Guardian and TVNZ's Seven Sharp. Location The town sits close to the coast on one of the branches of the Clutha River's delta. The small island of Inch Clutha lies immediately to the southwest of the town. Close to the town to the north lies the small Lake Tuakitoto, which drains into the Clutha via a small stream which runs to the west of Kaitangata. Demographics In 1863 there were only 29 eligible voters in the wider district, which included Inch Clutha and Matau. By 1865 the population for the wider area was given as 403 males and 253 females – a total of 656. Considerable expansion took place with the arrival of rail and the local population sought to have the town proclaimed a Municipality in July 1878. Kaitangata was within Bruce County at the time. Kaitangata is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers , and is part of the larger Kaitangata-Matau statistical area. Kaitangata had a population of 753 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−0.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 57 people (−7.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 324 households. There were 393 males and 363 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female, with 138 people (18.3%) aged under 15 years, 120 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 396 (52.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 99 (13.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 90.8% European/Pākehā, 17.1% Māori, 1.6% Pacific peoples, 1.6% Asian, and 0.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Although some people objected to giving their religion, 67.7% had no religion, 21.9% were Christian and 1.6% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (3.4%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 237 (38.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was