Kaniere is a small town in the Westland District of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island.

History/Origin/Meaning: Reeds[10] Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names gives the following explanation, "Kani is the act of sawing greenstone preparatory to making tools, weapons or ornaments, a long wearisome process.

There is just a possibility that it was originally oro, literally to grind or sharpen on a stone.

(Gaz 1948, p939)[11] Kaniere is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi).

The settlement is part of the larger Hokitika Rural statistical area.

[12] Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 1.30 km2 (0.50 sq mi).

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 154.38 km2 (59.61 sq mi).

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.2% had no religion, 33.8% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.