Fairlie, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fairlie
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Town
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A statue of James Mckenzie and his dog, in the centre of the town
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Mackenzie District |
| Ward | Opuha Ward |
| Community | Fairlie Community |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 4.95 km2 (1.91 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 950 |
| • Density | 191.9/km2 (497.1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time) |
| Postcode |
7925
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| Area code(s) | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Fairlie is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It's part of the Mackenzie District. About 950 people live here as of June 2023.
Fairlie is on State Highway 8, a main road between Christchurch and Queenstown. This means lots of visitors pass through, and tourism is becoming a big part of the town's economy. Fairlie is often called the "gateway to the Mackenzie Basin" because it's the main entry point to this beautiful area.
The town was first called Fairlie's Creek. A man named David Hamilton suggested the name. He had visited Fairlie in Scotland during his honeymoon and liked the name. Later, in 1892, the name was shortened to just Fairlie. The Ōpihi River flows right past the town.
Contents
What's the Weather Like in Fairlie?
Fairlie has warm summers and cold, frosty winters. In summer, temperatures often go above 25°C. Sometimes, they even reach 30°C.
In winter, it gets quite chilly. Temperatures drop below 0°C on many nights each year. This makes it perfect for winter sports nearby!
| Climate data for Fairlie, elevation 300 m (980 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1925–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 35.6 (96.1) |
38.5 (101.3) |
33.3 (91.9) |
31.4 (88.5) |
25.0 (77.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
33.7 (92.7) |
33.1 (91.6) |
38.5 (101.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
20.7 (69.3) |
17.5 (63.5) |
14.5 (58.1) |
11.3 (52.3) |
10.8 (51.4) |
12.8 (55.0) |
15.4 (59.7) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
20.6 (69.1) |
17.1 (62.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
13.8 (56.8) |
10.5 (50.9) |
7.6 (45.7) |
4.3 (39.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.4 (50.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
14.4 (57.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.3 (48.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
6.8 (44.2) |
3.5 (38.3) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
1.0 (33.8) |
3.6 (38.5) |
5.4 (41.7) |
8.2 (46.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−14.0 (6.8) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−15.6 (3.9) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 51.6 (2.03) |
56.5 (2.22) |
80.0 (3.15) |
49.6 (1.95) |
52.9 (2.08) |
46.2 (1.82) |
39.6 (1.56) |
52.5 (2.07) |
43.0 (1.69) |
66.6 (2.62) |
57.1 (2.25) |
66.2 (2.61) |
661.8 (26.05) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 179 | 158 | 154 | 141 | 127 | 117 | 124 | 142 | 152 | 175 | 179 | 169 | 1,817 |
| Source: NIWA (rain 1979–2009 and sun 1951–1980) | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Fairlie?
Fairlie is considered a rural settlement. In 2018, 885 people lived there. The population has grown a little over the years.
Most people in Fairlie are of European background (Pākehā). About 7.8% are Māori. A smaller number of people are from Asian or Pacific Island backgrounds.
Many people in Fairlie have no religious beliefs (45.4%). About 44.4% are Christian.
How is Fairlie Governed?
The Mackenzie District Council helps run the town and provides services. Their main office is in Fairlie.
Fairlie is part of the Waitaki voting area. The current Member of Parliament (MP) for Waitaki is Miles Anderson from the National Party.
Schools in Fairlie
Fairlie has three schools for students of different ages:
- Fairlie School: This is a primary school for students in Year 1 to Year 6.
- Mackenzie College: This is a secondary school for students from Year 7 to Year 13.
- Saint Joseph's School: This is a Catholic primary school for students in Year 1 to Year 8. It's a state-integrated school, meaning it's part of the public school system but keeps its special Catholic character.
Fun Things to Do in Fairlie
Fairlie offers many activities and facilities for locals and visitors.
Mackenzie A&P Show
Every Easter Monday, Fairlie hosts the Mackenzie District Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) Show. It's a big event that started way back in 1899! It's a fun day to see farm animals, competitions, and local crafts.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Fairlie is close to the Two Thumb Range mountains. This means there are two ski fields nearby:
- Mount Dobson Ski Field: About 28 km from Fairlie.
- Fox Peak Ski Field: Also about 28 km from Fairlie.
These are great places to go skiing or snowboarding in winter!
Golf Course
The Fairlie Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. It's a flat course, making it enjoyable for all skill levels. They hold special tournaments like the "Fairlie 500" every March.
Rugby
The Mackenzie Rugby Football Club is based in Fairlie. They play in different rugby competitions in the South Canterbury area. Rugby has a long history in Fairlie, with local clubs forming as early as 1884.
Swimming Pool
The Strathconan pool is an indoor swimming pool that's heated! It's open from October to March each year. It's a great spot to cool off in summer or get some exercise.
Ice Skating
Fairlie has an outdoor ice rink that relies on cold weather to freeze. It's been a popular spot for ice skating since the 1930s. Because of its location, it's often a couple of degrees colder there than in the town, which helps the ice stay frozen.
Half Marathon
The Mackenzie Half-Marathon race starts in Fairlie. It's a running event that even includes crossing a river! The first race was held in July 2020.
Skateboarding
Fairlie has a cool skateboard park that was finished in early 2021. Local volunteers helped a lot to build it, saving the community a lot of money.
Fairlie Heritage Museum
The Fairlie Heritage Museum is a fun place to visit. It has old farm machines and even the old railway station building. The museum is famous for having one of the largest collections of vintage wagons and carriages in New Zealand.
Famous People from Fairlie
Jack Lovelock lived in Fairlie when he was a child, from 1919 to 1923. He was the top student in the primary section of Fairlie School. There's an 8-kilometre walking trail in Fairlie named after him, called the Jack Lovelock memorial track.
Interesting Buildings in Fairlie
- Gladstone Grand Hotel: This historic hotel was built in 1884 and is considered a special building.
- Mount Cook Line Building: This building used to be stables back in 1906. It's also a protected historic building.
Fairlie is also very well known for its delicious pies, especially from the Fairlie Bakehouse.
There are several churches in town:
- St Columba on Main Street
- St Stephen's on Kirke Street (these two are part of a combined church group)
- Saint Patrick and All Saints Catholic Church on Gall Street.
Images for kids
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Gladstone Grand Hotel (July 2021)
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Mt Cook Line Building, next to the Gladstone Grand Hotel (July 2021)
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St Columba Church on Main Street (November 2011)
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St Patrick's and All Saints Catholic Church (July 2022)
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St Stephen's Anglican Church, Fairlie (July 2022)
