Kaikōura

Kaikōura (Template:IPAc-en; Template:IPA) is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, located on State Highway 1, Template:Convert north of Christchurch. The town has an estimated permanent resident population of Template:NZ population data 2018 as of Template:NZ population data 2018.<ref name="NZ_population_data_2018" /> Kaikōura is the seat of the territorial authority of the Kaikōura District, which is part of the Canterbury region.

Kaikōura was first inhabited by the Māori, with the Ngāi Tahu iwi occupying the area since at least 1670. Europeans began to settle in Kaikōura in the mid-1840s. By the 1850s, land that had been acquired was sold to European settlers, who most often started sheep farms in the area. Mount Fyffe in the Seaward Kaikōura Range is named in honour of Robert Fyffe and his family, the first European settlers in the area.

The infrastructure of Kaikōura was heavily damaged in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, with one of the two deaths near the town. The bay and surrounding region were uplifted by as much as Template:Convert. In 2023, Kaikōura was named as one of the "most beautiful small towns in the world".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kaikōura is known for its biodiversity, a wide variety of marine mammals can be seen in the sea, including whales and dolphins.Template:TOC limit

History

Early Māori history

Māori have long been resident in Kaikōura, and archaeological evidence of moa bones indicates that they hunted moa there. After the moa numbers declined, Kaikōura was still an attractive place to live because of its abundance of seafood. The Ngāi Tahu iwi have been resident in the Kaikōura area since at least 1670.<ref name="McAloon-1998" /> Numerous pā sites are located around Kaikōura. The numbers vary between 14 and 40.<ref name="Kaikoura District Plan">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Captain James Cook saw Kaikōura in 1770 but did not land there. He reported seeing four double-hulled canoes approaching HMS Endeavour containing 57 Māori.<ref name="Lonely Planet">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="New Zealand Geographic">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 1827–1828, Kaikōura was the site of the battle of Niho Maaka, between musket-armed Ngāti Toa (led by Te Rauparaha) and the Ngāti Kurī people of Ngāi Tahu. Several hundred Ngāi Tahu were killed or captured.<ref name="Lonely Planet" /> Ngāi Tahu were surprised by the Ngāti Toa raiding party, as they were expecting a visit from the Ngāti Kahungunu sub-tribe Tū-te-pākihi-rangi, with whom they were friends.<ref name="McAloon-1998" /> Only those Ngāti Kurī who fled to the hills survived. The name of the battle comes from a threat made by Rerewaka, one of the Kaikōura chiefs, who said he would slit Te Rauparaha's belly with a shark tooth (Template:Lang) if he came south.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Whaling stations

A whaling station was first established by Robert Fyffe in 1842 at Kaikōura. The Fyffe family was the first European family to settle in Kaikōura. John Guard and his family joined Fyffe sometime between 1844 and 1846. 40 men were employed at the whaling station initially. In 1845, he purchased a second whaling station at South Bay. This second whaling station (Fyffe's Village) became the commercial centre of Kaikōura until 1867. Fyffe diversified into shipping and farming due to the decline in whale numbers.<ref>Template:DNZB</ref> The Marlborough Express newspaper commented in 1866 that "whales seemed to have abandoned coming to Kaikōura".<ref name="New Zealand Geographic" /> The whaling stations continued until 1922.<ref name="Lonely Planet" />

Mount Fyffe owes its name to the Fyffe family. The cottage where the Fyffe family lived, built in 1842, still stands. The area surrounding the house, including Avoca Point, has been listed as a Historic Area by Heritage New Zealand. The construction of the cottage is unusual in that the supporting foundations of the house are made of whalebone.<ref>Template:NZHPT</ref>

European settlement

The New Zealand government purchased land north of Kaikōura from Ngāti Toa in 1847. This was challenged by Ngāi Tahu, who said that Ngāti Toa had no right to sell land that did not belong to them. In 1857, the New Zealand Government made an offer for land between the Ashley and Waiau Uwha rivers for 200 pounds, which was signed by Ngāi Tahu. Other land deals were completed in the area, leaving small reserves for local Māori. These reserves were reduced after 1900 when the New Zealand government compulsorily acquired further land for the proposed railway and "scenic" purposes.<ref name="McAloon-1998" />

From the 1850s, land that had been acquired was sold to European settlers who most often started sheep farms in the area. Many small blocks were sold around the Kaikōura Peninsula and in the 1870s, roads and bridges were built. A small wharf was completed in 1863. The Inland Kaikōura Road to Rotherham was completed by 1888. The road that became State Highway 1 was started in the 1890s across the Hundalee Hills with bridges across the rivers completed in 1914.<ref name="McAloon-1998" /> From around 1900, a total of 59 Norfolk pines were planted along the Esplanade. These trees now have "protected trees" status from the Kaikōura District Council.<ref name="Kaikoura District Plan" />

20th century

The population increased as a result of the extensive works required to build the railway in 1935. In December 1945, the Christchurch to Picton railway line was officially opened at Kaikōura. 5,000 people came out to celebrate the occasion.<ref name="NZHistory">Template:Cite web</ref> The population fell slightly after the railway was completed.<ref name="McAloon-1998">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1962 the roll-on/roll-off car ferry between Wellington and Picton increased travel between the North and South Islands, bringing more visitors to Kaikōura.<ref name="NZHistory" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There was only one motel (with 40 beds) before 1962.<ref name="McAloon-1998" />

Between 1945 and 1960, over-fishing led to a decline in the numbers of crayfish (spiny lobsters).<ref name="McAloon-1998" /> By 1975, the decline in crayfish numbers had extended to other fish species. In 1975, 97 registered fishing vessels were operating out of Kaikōura.<ref name="McAloon-1998" /> There are reports that between 1963 and 1964, 248 sperm whales in Kaikoura waters were killed during the last of the whaling activity in New Zealand.<ref name="New Zealand Geographic" />

Kaikōura struggled economically during the 1970s. In 1975, there were 304 motel beds and a further 500 campground beds and hotel beds. The Marlborough Regional Development Council noted that there was investment in accommodation but not in tourist attractions at this time.<ref name="McAloon-1998" /> The restructuring of the economy following the election of the Labour government in 1984 also affected Kaikōura adversely. Farm incomes dropped. Public sector employment was affected badly. There were 170 jobs lost in a town of 3,000.<ref name="McAloon-1998" />

In 1985, a group of local Kaikōura people established a tourist centre and began promoting Kaikōura as a tourist destination. The focus at that stage was on the walking opportunities and the scenery.<ref name="McAloon-1998" /> Whale-watching was established as a tourist venture in Kaikōura in 1987. Local Māori leaders were concerned about local unemployment, and mortgaged their houses to buy a Template:Convert boat to start up a whale watching business to see the local sperm whales. In the first year of business, 3,000 tourists took the opportunity to see whales. This has greatly expanded to more than 100,000 per annum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="New Zealand Geographic" />

2016 Kaikōura earthquake

Template:Main On 14 November 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the South Island just after midnight. It left two people dead (one near the town and one in the adjacent Hurunui District) and triggered a small tsunami. One thousand tourists and hundreds of residents were stranded in Kaikōura after the earthquake cut off train and vehicle access.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> New Zealand Air Force helicopters ferried many people out of Kaikoura initially<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the New Zealand navy sending HMNZS Canterbury to ferry many hundreds of tourists out.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1700 construction workers completed two million man-hours to repair the quake-damaged route along State Highway 1 after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. It reopened on 15 December 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The repairs included fixing almost Template:Convert of damaged road and a similar length of railway line. The repairs cost NZ$1.1 billion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Sperm whale with the Kaikōura mountain range in the distance

The stretch of coastline stretching roughly between the mouths of the Conway and Waiau Toa / Clarence Rivers is generally known as the Kaikōura coast. This coast is unusual for the South Island east coast, as there is very little coastal plain, with the Seaward Kaikōura Range, a branch of the Southern Alps, rising straight from the ocean.

The town of Kaikōura has the Seaward Kaikōuras as a backdrop. One of the walking tracks for visitors is the Mount Fyffe track, which winds up Mount Fyffe and gives a panoramic view of the Kaikōura peninsula from the summit.

The Kaikōura 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 Kaikōura Canyon. The town owes its origin to this effect, since it developed as a centre for the whaling industry. The name Kaikōura means 'meal of crayfish' (kai – food/meal, kōura – crayfish)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the crayfish industry still plays a role in the economy of the region. However, Kaikōura has now become a popular tourist destination, mainly for whale watching and swimming with or near dolphins.

Governance

The town is the seat of the territorial authority of the Kaikōura District, which is part of the Canterbury region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Local governance for Kaikōura is provided by the Kaikōura District Council (Ko te kaunihera ā rohe o Kaikōura). The council consists of a mayor and seven councillors. Elections for positions on the council are held every three years in conjunction with nationwide local elections.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kaikōura was the first local authority in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve recognition by the EarthCheck Community Standard.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

For national elections, Kaikōura is part of the Kaikōura electorate. Stuart Smith of the National Party was the current member of parliament after the 2020 election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Kaikōura is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area and covers Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2018 as of Template:NZ population data 2018 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km².

Template:Historical populations Kaikōura had a population of 2,223 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 213 people (10.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 21 people (1.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 873 households, comprising 1,107 males and 1,116 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 47.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 318 people (14.3%) aged under 15 years, 354 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 981 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 573 (25.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.3% European/Pākehā, 19.6% Māori, 0.8% Pasifika, 5.0% Asian, and 3.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.2% had no religion, 40.6% were Christian, 1.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 231 (12.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 447 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 189 people (9.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 969 (50.9%) people were employed full-time, 315 (16.5%) were part-time, and 30 (1.6%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">Template:NZ census 2018</ref>

Economy

In 2020, the GDP of the Kaikōura District was $232 million, with an annual growth for the region of 1.6%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tourism is a major contributor to the economy of the district. There was a significant downturn in visitors caused by the 2016 earthquake, with the COVID-19 pandemic creating a further impact in 2020–21. However, by 2024, tourism and economic activity in the town had rebounded.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tourism contributed $57 million to total GDP in Kaikoura District in 2020, and was the top overall category, contributing 24.8% of district GDP.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2023, tourism provided 27.6% of jobs in Kaikōura District in 2023, with accommodation and food services representing another 18.5%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In addition to ecotourism activities in the town, such as whale, seal, and bird watching, further tourism opportunities are under development. These include astrotourism, following the accreditation of the Kaikōura District as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary,<ref name="Allen2">Template:Cite web</ref> and the construction of a long-distance trail from Picton to Kaikōura known as the Whale Trail.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Culture

In Māori mythology, Kaikōura Peninsula (Te Taumanu-o-te-waka-a-Māui) was the seat where Māui sat when he fished the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) up from the depths of the sea.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The tangata whenua of Kaikōura and all of the Kaikōura District are Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu, and they hold customary tribal authority over this entire area (rohe).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Takahanga Marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāi Tahu and its Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura branch, is located in Kaikōura. The current marae building was opened in 2001. It includes the Maru Kaitatea wharenui (meeting house).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cliff Whiting was one of many Māori and Pākehā artists who contributed carving and artworks for the wharenui.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Biodiversity

The economy of the town now has a significant reliance on the visitors who come to experience the biodiversity of the local region, particularly the ocean. The Kaikōura canyon is a submarine canyon located southwest of the Kaikōura Peninsula. It is a southern branch of the Hikurangi Trough that extends northwards up the New Zealand east coast. The canyon has been described as a "bio-diversity hotspot", where upwelling of currents from the deep ocean provide feeding grounds along the Kaikōura coast for a diverse range of seabirds and marine mammals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Fitzgerald">Template:Cite web</ref>

An incorporated society, Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura, Kaikōura Coastal Marine Guardians (Te Korowai), was formed in 2005 to develop use and protection strategies and actions for the Kaikōura coast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The work of the society led to the passing of the Kaikōura (Te Tai o Marokura) Marine Management Act in August 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This Act established the Kaikōura marine management area, including a new marine reserve, sanctuaries and protections for whales and fur seals, and established new fishing regulations. It also recognised taiapure (traditional Māori fishing grounds which include areas of special cultural or spiritual significance).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hikurangi Marine Reserve

The Hikurangi Marine Reserve is a marine reserve off the Kaikōura coast, covering an area of Template:Convert south of the township, and including part of the Kaikōura canyon. The reserve was established in 2014 and is the largest and deepest marine reserve adjacent to any of New Zealand's three main islands. No fishing, harvesting, or mining is allowed in the reserve.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Hikurangi Marine Reserve">Template:Cite web</ref>

Kaikōura whale sanctuary

The Kaikōura (Te Tai o Marokura) Marine Management Act 2014 established the Te Rohe o Te Whānau Puha Whale Sanctuary covering Template:Convert, and extending Template:Convert north and south of the Kaikōura peninsula and Template:Convert out to sea, to provide additional protection for marine mammals in this area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Marine mammals

A wide variety of marine mammals can be seen in the Kaikōura region, including whales, dolphins, and New Zealand fur seals.<ref name="Hikurangi Marine Reserve" /> The Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 provides legal protection for these animals, and regulations set conditions that govern human behaviour in the vicinity of marine mammals. Permits are required for commercial tourist operations associated with marine mammals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Whales

Whale watching is a popular tourist attraction in Kaikōura and is an important contributor to the local economy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sperm whales can be observed all year, typically around 23 km offshore, but sometimes closer to shore.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Humpback whales are often seen in June and July during their winter migration, and orca can be seen from December to March.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Dolphins

Several species of dolphin can be seen in the waters off Kaikōura, including Dusky dolphins, and the endangered Hector's dolphin.<ref name="Hikurangi Marine Reserve" />

Seabirds

New Zealand has an unusually high diversity of shags, penguins, petrels and albatross species, leading to claims that the country is the "seabird capital of the world".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some of these seabird species are in significant decline, and many are critically endangered.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Notable seabirds that are seen off Kaikōura include:<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Fitzgerald" />

• fourteen species of albatross: Wandering, Antipodean, Northern royal, Southern royal, Black-browed, Campbell, White-capped, Salvin's, Chatham, Buller's, Atlantic yellow-nosed, Indian yellow-nosed, Light-mantled, Sooty
• ten species of petrel: Cook's, Grey-faced, Cape, Black, White-chinned, Westland, Grey, White-headed, Mottled, Soft-plumaged
• seven species of shearwater: Buller's, Sooty, Hutton's, Fluttering, Short-tailed, Flesh-footed, Pink-footed
• four species of skua: Arctic, Pomarine, Long-tailed, Brown
• four species of storm petrel: White-faced, Wilson's, Grey-backed, Black-bellied
• four species of penguin: Little, Yellow-eyed, Erect-crested, Chinstrap
• two species of giant petrel: Southern Giant Petrel, Northern Giant Petrel

Other notable seabirds observed off Kaikōura include: Antarctic fulmar, Fairy Prion, Grey Phalarope, Black-billed gull, Arctic tern, Black-fronted tern and Common diving petrel. Also regularly seen are Pied shags, Little shag, Spotted shag, Australasian gannet, Southern black-backed gull, Red-billed gull, White-fronted tern.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

From a local conservation perspective, particularly notable seabirds in the Kaikōura region include the Hutton's shearwater, the Red-billed gull, and the Little penguin.

Hutton's shearwater

Hutton's shearwater

The Hutton's shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) or Kaikōura tītī is an endangered seabird in the family Procellariidae. It is found in waters around Australia and New Zealand, but it only breeds in the Seaward Kaikōura Range in New Zealand. It is the only seabird in the world that breeds in an alpine environment. Nests have been found at elevations from 1200 to 1800Template:Nbspmetres. The Kowhai Valley and Shearwater Stream Important Bird Area contains the only two remaining alpine breeding colonies. An artificial colony was established in a protected area on the Kaikōura peninsula as a conservation measure, after six other colonies were wiped out by feral pigs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The birds fly at night, but can become disoriented by bright lights. Fledglings are particularly vulnerable and can crash-land on roads in the town. They are usually unable to take off again, making them vulnerable to being run over by vehicles or succumbing to predation by dogs or cats. Conservation organisations in Kaikōura rescue stranded birds for later release and advocate for reduced lighting.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Red-billed gull

Red-billed gull colony, Kaikōura

The Red-billed gull, also known as tarāpunga, is native to New Zealand. The Kaikōura peninsula has one of the three largest breeding colonies of these gulls, but the local population is in significant decline.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In contrast, there has been an increase in the population of Red-billed gulls at the breeding colony at Otago Peninsula, where there is control of mammalian predators.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Little penguin

The Little penguin or kororā is found along the Kaikōura coastline. These birds are vulnerable to becoming entangled in fishing nets, and while on land, are vulnerable to vehicle impact and predation by rats and domestic dogs. In a recent survey of 75Template:Nbspkm of Kaikōura coastline, the only breeding colony located was in fragmented areas around the southern part of the Kaikōura peninsula.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Shorebirds

Banded dotterel

Banded dotterel

The double-banded plover, known in New Zealand as the banded dotterel or pohowera, is a species of bird in the plover family that nests on stony beaches around the Kaikōura peninsula and South Bay. The species is listed as Nationally Vulnerable.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Breeding success of banded dotterels at Kaikōura has been severely affected by predation from cats.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A community-driven action plan is being developed to protect the habitat of nesting shorebirds at South Bay, with support from Environment Canterbury, Kaikōura District Council, University of Canterbury and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dark Sky Sanctuary

Template:Main An initiative was launched in 2022 to achieve international recognition of a dark-sky preserve in the Kaikōura area.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The intention was to reduce the problems that lighting causes for Hutton's shearwaters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Kaikōura District Council had already modified streetlighting, to reduce the risk to the birds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2022, the Mayor of Kaikōura said that the dark-sky reserve initiative had the full support of the council, and would be a boost to tourist numbers, especially during the winter period.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust applied to DarkSky International for designation of an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in August 2024,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the designation was announced on 11 September 2024.<ref name="Regan">Template:Cite web</ref> The sanctuary covers an area of Template:Cvt,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> representing around 98% of the Kaikōura District, excluding the Kaikōura township.<ref name="Allen">Template:Cite web</ref> The Trust plans to apply for the Kaikōura township to be recognised with international dark sky community status.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite news</ref>

Infrastructure

The rebuild after the 2016 earthquake replaced or upgraded many of Kaikoura District Council's assets. These included replacing the oldest water mains built in the 1920s and many roads. This has left Kaikōura better placed financially in 2021 than many councils, as they do not have to replace these in the next 30 years as part of their long-term planning.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Hospital

Funding was announced in 2013 to rebuild the 100 year old Kaikoura Hospital.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was completed in April 2016. The new building provides space for general practice, physiotherapy, dental, optometry, as well as maternity, radiology, and medical/trauma stabilisation and resuscitation facilities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It cost $13.4 million to complete.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kaikōura Civic Centre

Kaikōura Civic Centre with the distinctive wooden craypot (2025)

The Kaikōura Civic Centre was completed in 2016. It has a distinctive large "cray pot" on the outside of the building<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which represents Kaikōura's connection to the sea.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It contains offices for the Kaikōura District Council, Kaikōura Library, and Kaikōura Museum. A third floor was approved by the Kaikōura District Council in 2011, and the cost rose, which led to complaints from rate payers and submissions to the Long Term Plan in 2012 requesting restraint in spending.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Long term, finances for the Kaikōura District Council have been suggested to be tenuous.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hotel

A $35 million 4.5-star hotel was due to open in September 2021, but work was delayed due to the loss of international tourists because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected to have 118 bedroomsTemplate:Clarify and provide economic stimulus to Kaikōura.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It later opened in October 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Transport

Road transport

State Highway 1 passes through the town.

Air

Kaikōura also has a small sealed airstrip located 6 km south of the main centre. Kaikoura Airport is mainly used for whale spotting tourist flights, but it can also be used by small private and charter flights. It previously had return flights to Wellington and Christchurch operated by Sounds Air. A new service to Wellington has since been started with Air Kaikoura.

Rail

Coastal Pacific locomotive, Kaikōura

Kaikōura is served by the Main North Line, the northern section of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. The line opened north of Kaikōura on 13 March 1944, while the line south of the town opened on 15 December 1945, the latter completing the full line Christchurch to Picton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kaikōura is served by the Coastal Pacific long-distance passenger train, formerly called the TranzCoastal, which connected the town with Christchurch to the south, Picton and the Cook Strait ferries to the north. Kaikoura Station was the last station in New Zealand to have a refreshment room for passengers, which closed in 1988 when the Coastal Pacific Express (former name for the TranzCoastal) introduced on-board refreshments.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Freight trains also pass through the town, mainly carrying freight between the marshalling yards at Middleton in Christchurch and the Interislander rail ferries at Picton.

The Main North Line (Picton to Christchurch, passing through Kaikōura) suffered damage in the November 2016 earthquake and was closed for repairs, reopening to freight traffic on 15 September 2017. The Coastal Pacific resumed running once all repairs were completed in mid-2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

Template:Further The Kaikōura District has one secondary school, Kaikōura High School, and four primary schools: Hāpuku School, Kaikōura Primary School, Kaikoura Suburban School, and St Joseph's School.

Media

Newspapers

The main newspapers for Kaikōura are the Wednesday weekly Kaikoura Star and Monday to Friday late morning daily The Marlborough Express. The early morning Monday-Saturday Christchurch based daily The Press is also available. These papers are all owned by Fairfax New Zealand

Radio

Kaikōura has three locally transmitted radio stations on FM. These are More FM Marlborough (formerly Sounds FM) broadcast from Blenheim during the day and Auckland at night, Blue FM which is a locally broadcast Kaikōura station, and Tahu FM broadcast from Christchurch. Non local transmissions of the following stations can be received: The Breeze (Wellington AM/FM), Radio New Zealand National (Wellington AM/FM), ZM (Wellington and Christchurch FM), Radio Hauraki (Christchurch).

Amenities

Mayfair Theatre

Mayfair Theatre, Kaikōura

The Mayfair Theatre is an art deco building on the Esplanade that was first opened in 1935 as a venue for cinema and concerts. In 1985, the building was put up for sale, and by 1986, it had been purchased for the town as a result of a community fundraising initiative.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The building was damaged beyond repair in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, but community fundraising efforts resulted in the construction of a new cinema and performance venue on the site, retaining the 1934 art deco façade.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After a $3.6 million restoration project, the building was re-opened in November 2020 as the Mayfair Arts and Culture Centre Te Whare Toi ō Kaikōura.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As well as two movie screens, it has an upstairs exhibition space.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Swimming pool

The Kaikōura swimming pool on the Esplanade was badly damaged in the 2016 earthquake, leaving Kaikōura without a public pool for five years.<ref name="Stuff-2021">Template:Cite web</ref> A charitable trust was established to raise funds to build a replacement pool.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Funding of $3.7Template:Nbspmillion was raised for the build, with the Kaikōura District Council contributing $1Template:Nbspmillion, COVID Recovery Fund contributing $1Template:Nbspmillion and the Kaikōura Community Op Shop contributing $100,000. The Kaikōura Aquatic Centre opened in November 2021.<ref name="Stuff-2021" /> It includes a 25Template:Nbspm x 12Template:Nbspm lap pool, a smaller pool for learners, and a toddler pool.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Horse racing

The Kaikōura race course is located on Bay Parade at South Bay and is administered by the Kaikōura Trotting Club. The club was first established in 1914 with the first Kaikōura Trotting Cup won by a horse called Kintail owned by Albert Edgar and trained by Billie Honeybone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, the Kaikōura Trotting Cup weekend, normally held in early November was transferred to Addington Raceway in Christchurch due to COVID-19 restrictions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Golf course

The Kaikōura golf club was established in 1911, with 39 members joining during the first season. The first nine-hole course was located at the South Bay Domain. In 1935, the course moved to a new 9-hole course with a clubhouse near the Kowhai River. In 1958, three extra holes were added. And in 1960, a further three holes were added. In 1963, the course was extended again to 18 holes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Koura Bay golf resort, just to the north of Kaikōura, has a nine-hole golf course.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

Template:Main category Notable people from Kaikōura include:

• Pat Boot – middle-distance runner who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics and the 1938 British Empire Games, winning gold and bronze medals at the latter.
• Thomas Cooke – posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at the Battle of Pozières during the First World War.
• Aston Greathead – artist
• Ted Howard – conservationist
• Trevor Howse – Ngāi Tahu leader and researcher
• Ronald Jorgensen – one of the perpetrators of the Bassett Road machine gun murders in 1963
• Ailsa McGilvary – bird conservationist and photographer
• Bert Sandos – rower who competed at the 1930 British Empire Games, where he won two medals, and at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
• Mark Solomon – Māori leader, kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, chair of the Canterbury District Health Board
• Julie Syme – community service leader
• Melville Syme – community service leader
• Ian Walker – long-serving Chief Fire Officer of the Kaikōura volunteer fire brigade
• Cora Wilding – physiotherapist noted for her advocacy of outdoor activities and children's health camps in the 1930s
• John Wood – diplomat and a former chancellor of the University of Canterbury

Gallery

• Kaikōura
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  Seaward Kaikōura Range from Kaikōura town
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  The Seaward Kaikōura mountain range from Kaikōura
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  View of a beach and Seaward Kaikōura Range from Kaikōura
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  Fyffe House
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  Whale watching vessel
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  A sperm whale seen from on a whale-watching tour boat off Kaikōura
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  A seal colony on the Kaikōura peninsula
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  A fur seal on the beach at Kaikōura

External links

• Kaikōura District Council official website
• Kaikōura tourism and information site