Waimakariri District
Encyclopedia
The Waimakariri District is a political district of New Zealand
, located in the South Island
, on the eastern coast of north Canterbury. It is north of Christchurch
and the Waimakariri River
and is a part of the greater Canterbury region. The name is Māori
for cold river.
The district was established in 1989 and consists of 2,218.72 square kilometres. Its 2006 population was 42,834, up 16.08% from 2001 and up 32.42% from 1996. The primary towns are Kaiapoi
and Rangiora, as well as Woodend
and Oxford
.
Other small townships in the Waimakariri district include Swannanoa
, Cust
, Ohoka, Waikuku
, Sefton and Loburn
. A new town, Pegasus, is being developed.
The current district mayor is David Ayers, who defeated incumbent mayor Ron Keating in the 2010 local body elections.
(Data source: Waimakariri District Council and Statistics New Zealand
)
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, located in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, on the eastern coast of north Canterbury. It is north of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and the Waimakariri River
Waimakariri River
The Waimakariri River is the largest of the North Canterbury rivers, in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows for 151 kilometres in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean....
and is a part of the greater Canterbury region. The name is Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
for cold river.
The district was established in 1989 and consists of 2,218.72 square kilometres. Its 2006 population was 42,834, up 16.08% from 2001 and up 32.42% from 1996. The primary towns are Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
and Rangiora, as well as Woodend
Woodend, New Zealand
Woodend is a town 26 km north of Christchurch on State Highway 1 named after one of New Zealand's early settlers named Thomas Woodend. The population as at the 2006 Census was 2,637....
and Oxford
Oxford, New Zealand
Oxford is a small town of 1,716 people serving the farming community of North Canterbury, New Zealand. It is part of the Waimakariri District. Oxford is a linear town, approximately two kilometres long. For a time Oxford was serviced by the Oxford Branch railway, and had two stations, East Oxford...
.
Other small townships in the Waimakariri district include Swannanoa
Swannanoa, New Zealand
Swannanoa is a small, originally farming village situated 35 kilometres northwest of Christchurch, New Zealand. The area has an estimated population of 1,000 with around 200 pupils enrolled in the primary school, established in 1873...
, Cust
Cust, New Zealand
Cust is a rural village in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located in north Canterbury and comes under seat of the Waimakariri District Council.Cust is about 16 km east of Oxford and 17 km west of Rangiora....
, Ohoka, Waikuku
Waikuku, New Zealand
Waikuku is a small township in Canterbury, New Zealand, about 35 minutes drive north from the centre of Christchurch. At the 2001 census, Waikuku had a population of 738 people.-References:...
, Sefton and Loburn
Loburn, New Zealand
Loburn is a rural community in north Canterbury, New Zealand. It is located ten kilometres northwest of Rangiora and nearly 50 kilometres north of Christchurch....
. A new town, Pegasus, is being developed.
The current district mayor is David Ayers, who defeated incumbent mayor Ron Keating in the 2010 local body elections.
(Data source: Waimakariri District Council and Statistics New Zealand
Statistics New Zealand
Statistics New Zealand is the national statistical office of New Zealand.-Organisation:New Zealand's Minister of Statistics is Maurice Williamson who serves as a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives and holds several other posts within government...
)