View source for Mackenzie Basin

{{Short description|Area of land in the South Island of New Zealand}}
{{for|the basin of the Canadian river|Mackenzie River}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}}

[[File:Mackenzie Country Typical Colour.jpg|thumb|right|The Mackenzie Country's typical autumn colouration]]

The '''Mackenzie Basin''' ({{Langx|mi|Te Manahuna}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=Kā Ara Tūpuna Te Manahura |url=https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/our_stories/ka-ara-tupuna/ |website=ngaitahu.iwi.nz |publisher=Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu |access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref> popularly and traditionally known as the '''Mackenzie Country''', is an elliptical [[intermontane]] [[river basin|basin]] located in the [[Mackenzie District|Mackenzie]] and [[Waitaki District]]s, near the centre of the [[South Island]] of [[New Zealand]]. It is the largest such basin in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mackenzie Basin routes |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/mackenzie-country-and-waitaki/mackenzie-basin-routes/ |publisher=Department of Conservation |accessdate=4 February 2013}}</ref> Historically famous mainly for [[sheep farming]], the sparsely populated area is now also a popular tourism destination.

The basin was named in the 1850s by and after [[James Mckenzie (outlaw)|James Mckenzie]], a shepherd and would-be farmer of Scottish origin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Save our Mackenzie Country|url=http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/campaigns/save-the-mackenzie|publisher=[[Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand]]|accessdate=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517094016/http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/campaigns/save-the-mackenzie|archive-date=17 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mckenzie was captured for allegedly stealing sheep; he herded his flocks in what was then an area almost totally empty of any human habitation, though [[Māori people|Māori]] previously lived there intermittently.<ref>[http://www.tekapotourism.co.nz/history.htm History of the Lake Tekapo Area] (from the Lake Tekapo Tourism website. Accessed 2008-02-12.)</ref> After his capture, the area was soon divided up amongst new sheep pasture stations in 1857.<ref>[http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/MckenzieJames/MckenzieJames/en James Mckenzie] (from the Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand website)</ref>

==Geography==
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[[File:McKenzie Country With Southern Alps.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Southern Alps]] form the northern and western boundaries of the basin.]]
[[File:Shaun muckle benohau.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Ben Ohau Range]] from the eastern shore of Tekapo B hydrogenerator station headgate pond]]

The basin extends approximately {{convert|100|km|mi}} north to south, and {{convert|40|km|mi}} east to west. The [[Southern Alps]] constitute its western edge. The Mackenzie Basin is located entirely within [[South Canterbury]].

Using [[New Zealand State Highway 8|State Highway 8]], it can be accessed via [[Burkes Pass]] (elevation 709m / 2,326&nbsp;ft) from the north and the [[Lindis Pass]] (elevation 965m / 3,166&nbsp;ft) from the south, or via [[New Zealand State Highway 83|State Highway 83]] through the [[Waitaki River|Waitaki Valley]] from the east. Aside from these passes, the terrain is generally highest at the northern end and gradually descends in a southward direction.

The basin is drained by the [[Waitaki River]]. Prominent rivers crossing the Mackenzie Basin include the [[Ahuriri River|Ahuriri]], the [[Hakataramea River|Hakataramea]] and the [[Tekapo River|Tekapo]] Rivers. Lakes [[Lake Ōhau|Ōhau]], [[Lake Pukaki|Pukaki]], [[Lake Alexandrina (New Zealand)|Alexandrina]] and [[Lake Tekapo|Tekapo]] lie within the Mackenzie Basin, as do the artificial hydroelectric lakes of [[Lake Ruataniwha|Ruataniwha]], [[Lake Benmore|Benmore]] and [[Lake Aviemore|Aviemore]].

==Settlement and activities==
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Sparsely populated, and with only four settlements ([[Lake Tekapo (town)|Lake Tekapo]], population <500; [[Mount Cook Village]], population <150; [[Twizel]], population <1,000; and [[Omarama]], population <400), the Mackenzie Country comprises an area of huge glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains, particularly favoured by tourists and skiers.

The Ōhau skifield near Omarama, and Roundhill and Mount Dobson Ski Areas at Lake Tekapo, are small commercial skifields popular amongst many people living in Canterbury and Otago.

The Mackenzie Country is frequently utilised as the principal and second-unit location for television commercials, documentaries, and motion pictures, including much of [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]] and [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' film trilogy]].

[[Gliding]] is another common activity within the Mackenzie Basin, and the area was host to a Gliding World Cup event in 1995, as well as being the home of several gliding clubs, airfields, and numerous private [[sailplane|glider]] pilots, of both amateur and professional status.

== International Dark Sky Reserve ==
{{Main|Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve}}
Due to its clean, dry and dark sky, the Mackenzie Basin serves as an important area for New Zealand-based [[astronomy]], with a number of related facilities located there, including the nation's premier astronomical observatory, the [[University of Canterbury]]'s [[Mount John University Observatory]], and several amateur observatories. Astronomy-related tourism is an increasing contributor to the area's economy, with more astro-tourism ventures in development near Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook village (planetarium) and Omarama.<ref>[http://www.hermitage.co.nz/accommodation/hillary-planetarium/ Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Planetarium] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030103948/http://www.hermitage.co.nz/accommodation/hillary-planetarium/ |date=30 October 2007 }} (from the Hermitage Hotel's website. Retrieved 2007-11-06.)</ref> Each June the annual mid winter star party is held at new moon on the Omarama airfield.

In June 2012, an area of 430,000 hectares (1,100,000 acres) including Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin was declared the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve by the [[International Dark-Sky Association]].  At the time of the designation in 2012, the reserve was the largest in the world, and the only reserve of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/reserves/aorakimackenzie/ | title=Aoraki Mackenzie (New Zealand)| publisher= International Dark Sky Association| access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=9 June 2012|title=New Zealand's Aoraki Mackenzie Named World's Largest International Dark Sky Reserve|url=https://www.darksky.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IDA-Aoraki-Mackenzie-PR-Final.pdf|access-date=28 December 2021|website=International Dark Sky Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gibson|first=Jacqui|date=3 August 2021|title='There's drama Everywhere': Dark Sky adventure at Takapō|work=New Zealand Herald|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/go-nz-stargazing-in-mackenzie-country-and-winter-dark-sky-adventures/ANXARIQRPXTUSKILTAZEN2QGWM/|access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref>

==Demographics==
[[File:LakePukakiNov232024 01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Aoraki / Mount Cook]] from [[Lake Pukaki]]]]
The statistical area of Mackenzie Lakes corresponds to the portion of the Mackenzie Basin within the Mackenzie District. It includes Mt Cook Village and Lake Tekapo, but not Twizel. Mackenzie Lakes covers {{Convert|5139.71|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=8 February 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Mackenzie Lakes|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Mackenzie Lakes|y}}|R}}/5139.71|2}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|783|2013|882|2018|1,182|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}}
Before the 2023 census, Mackenzie Lakes had a smaller boundary, covering {{Convert|5134.25|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area"/> Using that boundary, Mackenzie Lakes had a population of 1,182 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 300 people (34.0%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 399 people (51.0%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 375 households, comprising 585 males and 597 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 31.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 156 people (13.2%) aged under 15 years, 357 (30.2%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (48.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (8.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 71.6% European/[[Pākehā]], 4.3% [[Māori people|Māori]], 2.0% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]], 20.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 7.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 43.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.6% had no religion, 31.0% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 1.8% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.0% were [[Islam in New Zealand|Muslim]], 2.8% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 279 (27.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 81 (7.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 141 people (13.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 780 (76.0%) people were employed full-time, 117 (11.4%) were part-time, and 3 (0.3%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Mackenzie Lakes (341500)|mackenzie-lakes|Mackenzie Lakes}}</ref>

==Environmental issues==
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[[File:Tekapo-Pukaki canal.jpg|thumb|Many canals have been built in the Basin, diverting water to generate hydroelectricity.]]
The original vegetation cover prior to human settlement has been completely transformed in the basin and indeed most of the surrounding [[Canterbury-Otago tussock grasslands]] ecoregion, initially due to fires lit by Māori and European settlers, and in more recent times by farming activity and by pests. 

The extensive network of canals for [[hydroelectric]] schemes posed a threat to the [[black stilt]] (or kakī), an endangered river wading bird. A captive breeding programme was set up and it is administered by the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]].<ref>[http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/wetland-birds/black-stilt-kaki/ Department of Conservation] - Black Stilt</ref>

The Mackenzie Basin is one of the areas where [[wilding conifer]]s proliferate. These weed trees cover large areas sometimes to a very high density and therefore excluding native vegetation and reducing the amount of available pasture. Some areas have control measures in place to prevent the trees from spreading.

[[Rabbits]] are a common [[invasive species]] in the area affect both agricultural production and [[biodiversity]]. Rabbit numbers dropped after the introduction of [[rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus]] (RCD) but are now increasing. The Department of Conservation has plans to drop [[sodium fluoroacetate]] (1080) laced poison bait to control the rabbit numbers. This is seen as necessary due to the disproportionally high number of threatened plant species in the Mackenzie Basin. The plan attracted opposition at submission hearings.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plan for 1080 drops in MacKenzie Basin 
|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2441711/Mackenzie-1080-drop-plan |last=Williams|first=David|date=2009-05-26 |newspaper=[[The Press]] |accessdate = 2009-06-14}}</ref>

There is currently a high demand for water to irrigate the Mackenzie Basin, with 126 [[resource consent]]s from 36 applicants before [[Environment Canterbury]] as of mid-2009. The water would be used to irrigate an area of {{convert|27125|ha}}, but the schemes are opposed by many locals and the Department of Conservation for the potential ecological effects, and since it may clash with a proposed Mackenzie Basin Drylands Park.
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==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mackenzie Basin (New Zealand)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110129222122/http://www.mtcooknz.com/ Aoraki Mt Cook Mackenzie District Council]
*[http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/mackenzie-country-and-waitaki/twizel-walks-for-families/ Twizel Te Manahuna area] at the [[New Zealand Department of Conservation|Department of Conservation]]
* [http://www.omarama.com/ Omarama Gliding Club]
* [http://www.snowreport.co.nz/ List of local and national ski areas]
*Observatories
**[http://www.observatory.org.nz/ Benmore Peak Observatory]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20110517052235/http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/research/mt_john/ Mt John University Observatory]
*[http://mackenzieguardians.co.nz/ Mackenzie Guardians] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527021238/http://mackenzieguardians.co.nz/ |date=27 May 2010 }} — ''advocacy group for protection of the Mackenzie Basin''.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110517094016/http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/campaigns/save-the-mackenzie Mackenzie Basin campaign] — ''at [[Forest and Bird]]''.
*[http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Nicola-Vallance-Forest--Bird-advocate-on-ecological-threats-to-The-MacKenzie-country/tabid/506/articleID/13646/Default.aspx Radiolive.co.nz: Ecological threats to The MacKenzie country]

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{{Mackenzie District}}
{{Waitaki District}}

[[Category:Drainage basins of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Canterbury Region]]
[[Category:Mackenzie District]]
[[Category:Waitaki District]]
[[Category:Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve]]