Kaikoura District
| Kaikoura | |
|---|---|
| Minor urban area | |
Town of Kaikoura as seen from the peninsula
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 Kaikoura
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| Coordinates: 42°24′S 173°41′E / 42.40°S 173.68°ECoordinates: 42°24′S 173°41′E / 42.40°S 173.68°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Kaikoura District |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 6.78 km2 (2.62 sq mi) |
| • District | 2,046.77 km2 (790.26 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2016) | |
| • Urban | 2,080 |
| • Urban density | 310/km2 (790/sq mi) |
| • District | 3,740 |
| • District density | 1.8/km2 (4.7/sq mi) |
| Postcode | 7300 |
| Website | www |
Kaikoura /kaɪˈkɔːrə/ (Māori: Te Ahi Kaikōura a Tama ki te Rangi) is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1, 180 km north of Christchurch.
Kaikoura became the first local authority in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve recognition by the EarthCheck Community Standard.
The town has an estimated permanent resident population of 2,080 (as of June 2016). The town is the governmental seat of the territorial authority of the Kaikoura District, which is politically a part of the Canterbury region. The District has a land area of 2,046.41 km² (790.12 sq mi) and an estimated population of 3,740 inhabitants.
The infrastructure of Kaikoura was heavily damaged in the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, which also caused two deaths in the area. The sea level of the bay and surrounding region was lifted by as much as 2 meters.
From 1853 to 1876, Kaikoura was administrated as part of the Nelson Province. In 1876 the Kaikoura County was formed.
On 14 November 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the South Island just after midnight. It left two people dead and triggered a small tsunami. One thousand tourists and hundreds of residents were stranded in Kaikoura after the earthquake cut off train and vehicle access.
The Kaikoura Peninsula extends into the sea south of the town, and the resulting upwelling currents bring an abundance of marine life from the depths of the nearby Hikurangi Trench. The town owes its origin to this effect, since it developed as a centre for the whaling industry. The name Kaikoura means 'meal of crayfish' (kai – food/meal, kōura – crayfish) and the crayfish industry still plays a role in the economy of the region. However Kaikoura has now become a popular tourist destination, mainly for whale watching (the sperm whale watching is perhaps the best and most developed in the world) and swimming with or near dolphins. There is also a large and readily observed colony of southern fur seals at the eastern edge of the town. At low tide, better viewing of the seals can be had as the ocean gives way to a rocky base which is easily navigable by foot for quite some distance.
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Wikipedia