This page is about the diverse offerings of the Waimakariri District and its vast and interesting history. For more information on working, visiting and living in the Waimakariri District, please visit the North Canterbury website.
Location of the Waimakariri District
The
Waimakariri District lies to the north of the Waimakariri River in
North Canterbury. The major urban areas are Rangiora and Kaiapoi, which
are respectively about 20 and 30 minutes travelling time by car from the
centre of Christchurch City.
There are other urban settlements including Woodend and Oxford, as well as a number of village and beach settlements.
The
District occupies some 225,000 hectares, and extends from Pegasus Bay
in the east to the Puketeraki Range in the west. It is bounded to the
north by the Hurunui District.
Demographics of the District
The Waimakariri
District has a population of approximately 47,600 (as at 30 June 2010).
The District has experienced a rapidly growing population that is
predicted to continue to increase. Despite rapid growth, Waimakariri has
retained its rural/small town character and a high proportion of
residents are involved in an extensive range of community and
recreational organisations.
The Waimakariri Social Profile (pdf, 234.26 kB) and District Plan provide information relating to the demographic make-up of the District.
Agriculture of the District
A
large portion of the Waimakariri District has fertile flat land, or
highly productive rolling downs. Much of the land to the east of
Rangiora is reclaimed swamp, which is still subject to poor drainage and
occasional flooding.
The north-western portion of the District
is hill and high country. These hills, including Mt Oxford, Mt
Richardson, Mt Thomas and Mt Grey, dominate the District’s western
landscape.
Historically the District was dominated by extensive
agricultural and pastoral farming activity with few major industries.
More recently many new small holdings have been created; some of these
are used for full-time or part-time horticultural enterprises, including
vegetable and flower growing.
Waimakariri History
In
pre-European times there were several important Ngai Tahu settlements
in the area now occupied by the Waimakariri District. The centre of Ngai
Tahu was the pa of Taurakautahi, known as Kaiapoi. Today, the hapu Ngai
Tuahuriri is based at Tuahiwi, to the north of Kaiapoi. People who
identify themselves as having NZ Maori ancestry presently represent 8.5%
of the District’s population, and most of these people live in the
eastern part of the District.
During the early years of European
settlement, Kaiapoi developed as a river port. Rangiora was the area’s
main market town, and the development of Oxford was based on timber
milling. The roles of the District’s main urban areas have changed
during recent years, mainly as the result of the rapid population
growth.
European settlement concentrated on the fertile soils of
the plains. Until the middle of the 20th century extensive agricultural
and pastoral farming predominated. More recently, horticultural and
forestry have gained in importance. Today some 11% of the District’s
labour force is now involved with agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Industry in the Waimakariri District
The
District has a few major industries. A large fibreboard plant at Sefton
draws on local wood resources. The other industries are mainly
small-scale service and processing enterprises, some of which also use
local wood resources.
The Waimakariri District has a high
standard of communications. The South Island Main Trunk Railway and
State Highway 1 cross the eastern portion of the District. The District
also has an airfield at Rangiora, and is close to the Christchurch
International Airport. Telecommunications are continually being
upgraded.
Recreation in the Waimakariri District
The District offers a wide range of recreational opportunities.
It has sandy beaches, estuaries, river gorges and braided rivers, which
offer a range of opportunities for fishing, boating and rafting.
The famous Waimakariri River is a great place to jet boat,
kayak and fish, and the sandy beaches are just a stone's throw away. The
District also offers the opportunity to enjoy sailing on Pegagus Lake,
horse riding, farm tours and weekly farmers markets.
The
foothills and mountains offer a variety of tramping experiences which
complement a growing range of walking trails and formal recreational
areas throughout the District.
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