the West Coast. Takaka's location on the leeward side of these hills allow the wind to become warmer and drier as it flows down towards the town, allowing an average of 22 days a year to exceed 26.7 °C (80 °F). On the contrary, being a few kilometres inland, cold air can settle over Takaka on winter mornings, resulting in an average of 17.2 frosty days per year. Economy Farming, sawmilling, limestone quarrying and tourism are major local industries. The area around Tākaka is mineral-rich, with gold, iron ore, copper, silver and asbestos all found locally, although not all in commercially viable amounts. Dairy factory There is also a small Fonterra factory located in the township of Tākaka that produces skim milk powder. There are 83 dairy farms supplying the factory, which can process about a day into skim milk powder. Cream is produced as a by-product, and is shipped to the Clandeboye factory for further processing. The $80 million Takaka dairy factory was damaged by a fire in 2005. More than 60 firefighters battled the fire, which was caused by contractors completing welding work. It has subsequently been rebuilt. In 2009, it was reported that it employed nearly 50 staff and contributed $3 million in wages to the local economy. Demographics Tākaka statistical area covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Tākaka had a population of 1,335 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 99 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 183 people (15.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 552 households. There were 657 males and 678 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 47 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 222 people (16.6%) aged under 15 years, 189 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 621 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 306 (22.9%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 94.8% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 1.1% Pacific peoples, 2.0% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). The proportion of people born overseas was 18.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 64.5% had no religion, 24.9% were Christian, 0.2% were Hindu, 1.1% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 177 (15.9%) people