Kaikōura facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kaikōura
Minor urban area
Town of Kaikōura as seen from the peninsula
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Kaikōura District
Electorates	Kaikōura Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Area
• Urban	9.28 km2 (3.58 sq mi)
• District	2,046.81 km2 (790.28 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Urban	2,360
• Urban density	254.3/km2 (658.7/sq mi)
• District	4,230
• District density	2.0666/km2 (5.353/sq mi)
District Postcode(s)	Map of postcodes
City Postcode	7300

Kaikōura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1, about 180 kilometers north of Christchurch. The town is home to around 2,360 permanent residents. Kaikōura is the main town of the Kaikōura District, which is part of the Canterbury region.

The Māori were the first to live in Kaikōura, with the Ngāi Tahu iwi (tribe) settling there by 1670. European settlers arrived in the mid-1840s. By the 1850s, land was sold to Europeans who often started sheep farms. Mount Fyffe is named after Robert Fyffe and his family, who were the first European settlers.

Kaikōura is famous for its amazing wildlife. Many different marine mammals, like whales and dolphins, can be seen in the ocean nearby. In 2023, Kaikōura was even called one of the "most beautiful small towns in the world." The town was badly damaged by a large earthquake in 2016, but it has since been rebuilt.

History of Kaikōura

Early Māori Life

Māori have lived in Kaikōura for a very long time. Old bones of moa (a large, extinct bird) show that Māori hunted them here. Even after moa became rare, Kaikōura was a great place to live because of all the seafood. The Ngāi Tahu iwi (tribe) has been in the Kaikōura area since at least 1670. Many old pā (fortified villages) sites can be found around Kaikōura.

Captain James Cook saw Kaikōura in 1770 but did not land. He reported seeing 57 Māori in four double-hulled canoes near his ship, HMS Endeavour.

In 1827–1828, a battle called Niho Maaka happened in Kaikōura. The Ngāti Toa tribe, led by Te Rauparaha, attacked the Ngāti Kurī people of Ngāi Tahu. The Ngāti Toa had muskets, which were new weapons at the time. Many Ngāi Tahu people were killed or captured. Only those who ran into the hills survived.

Whaling Stations

The first whaling station in Kaikōura was set up by Robert Fyffe in 1842. The Fyffe family was the first European family to live in Kaikōura. John Guard and his family joined Fyffe a few years later. At first, 40 men worked at the whaling station. In 1845, Fyffe bought a second whaling station at South Bay. This second station became the main business center of Kaikōura until 1867.

As whale numbers went down, Fyffe started other businesses like shipping and farming. A newspaper in 1866 said that "whales seemed to have abandoned coming to Kaikōura." Whaling continued in the area until 1922.

Mount Fyffe is named after the Fyffe family. Their cottage, built in 1842, is still standing today. It is special because its foundations are made of whalebone.

European Settlement

The New Zealand government bought land north of Kaikōura from Ngāti Toa in 1847. However, Ngāi Tahu said that Ngāti Toa did not own that land. In 1857, the New Zealand Government offered 200 pounds for land between the Ashley and Waiau Uwha rivers, and Ngāi Tahu agreed. Other land deals were made, leaving small areas for local Māori. These areas were made even smaller after 1900 when the government took more land for a planned railway and for "scenic" purposes.

From the 1850s, the land was sold to European settlers who mostly started sheep farms. Many small plots were sold around the Kaikōura Peninsula. In the 1870s, roads and bridges were built. A small wharf was finished in 1863. The Inland Kaikōura Road to Rotherham was completed by 1888. The road that became State Highway 1 started in the 1890s.

Around 1900, 59 Norfolk pines were planted along the Esplanade. These trees are now protected by the Kaikōura District Council.

20th Century Changes

The town's population grew in 1935 because many people were needed to build the railway. In December 1945, the railway line from Christchurch to Picton officially opened in Kaikōura. About 5000 people came to celebrate. After the railway was finished, the population dropped a little.

Between 1945 and 1960, too much fishing caused the number of crayfish to decline.

In 1962, a new car ferry service between Wellington and Picton started. This brought more visitors to Kaikōura. Before 1962, there was only one motel in town.

Between 1963 and 1964, 248 sperm whales were killed in Kaikōura waters. This was the last time whaling happened in New Zealand.

Kaikōura faced economic challenges in the 1970s. By 1975, the decline in crayfish numbers also affected other fish species. The town had many places for visitors to stay, but not enough tourist activities.

In the mid-1980s, changes in the country's economy also hurt Kaikōura. Farm incomes dropped, and many public sector jobs were lost. About 170 jobs were lost in a town of 3000 people.

Whale Watching Begins

In 1985, a group of local Kaikōura people created a tourist center. They started promoting Kaikōura as a place for visitors, focusing on walking trails and beautiful scenery.

Whale-watching became a tourist business in Kaikōura in 1987. Local Māori leaders were worried about people not having jobs. They used their homes as collateral to buy a 6.7 meter boat. They started a whale watching business to see the local sperm whales. In the first year, 3000 tourists came to see the whales. Now, more than 100,000 people visit each year for whale watching.

2016 Kaikōura Earthquake

On November 14, 2016, a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit the South Island just after midnight. Two people died near the town, and a small tsunami was triggered. One thousand tourists and hundreds of residents were stuck in Kaikōura because the earthquake cut off roads and train lines. New Zealand Air Force helicopters helped many people leave. The New Zealand navy also sent a ship, HMNZS Canterbury, to ferry hundreds of tourists out.

About 1700 construction workers spent two million hours repairing the damaged State Highway 1. The road reopened on December 15, 2017. The repairs fixed almost 200 kilometers of road and a similar length of railway line. The repairs cost NZ$1.1 billion.

Geography of Kaikōura

Sperm whale with the Kaikōura mountain range in the distance

The coast around Kaikōura is special because the Seaward Kaikōura Range, a part of the Southern Alps, rises directly from the ocean. There is very little flat land along the coast.

The town of Kaikōura has the Seaward Kaikōuras as a beautiful background. One popular walking track for visitors is the Mt. Fyffe track. It goes up Mt. Fyffe and offers amazing views of the Kaikōura peninsula from the top.

The Kaikōura Peninsula reaches out into the sea south of the town. This causes ocean currents to bring a lot of marine life from the deep Kaikōura Canyon to the surface. The town's name, Kaikōura, means 'meal of crayfish' (kai – food/meal, kōura – crayfish). The crayfish industry is still important, but Kaikōura is now a popular tourist spot. People come mainly for whale watching and swimming with dolphins.

Kaikōura's Climate

How Kaikōura is Governed

Kaikōura is the main town of the Kaikōura District. This district is part of the Canterbury region. The local government for Kaikōura is the Kaikōura District Council. The council has a mayor and seven councillors. Elections for these positions happen every three years. Kaikōura was the first local government in the Southern Hemisphere to get special recognition for its environmental efforts from EarthCheck.

For national elections, Kaikōura is part of the Kaikōura electorate. A Member of Parliament (MP) represents this area in the national government.

People of Kaikōura

Kaikōura is considered a small urban area by Statistics New Zealand. It covers about 9.28 square kilometers. As of June 2023, it had an estimated population of 2,360 people.

Population Changes

In the 2018 New Zealand census, Kaikōura had 2,223 people. This was an increase of 213 people since the 2013 census. There were 873 households. The average age was 47.7 years. About 14.3% of the people were under 15 years old.

Ethnic Groups

Most people in Kaikōura are European/Pākehā (83.3%). About 19.6% are Māori. Other groups include Asian (5.0%) and Pasifika (0.8%). Some people identify with more than one ethnic group.

Religion and Work

About 48.2% of people said they had no religion. 40.6% were Christian. The median income was $30,200. About 50.9% of people aged 15 or older worked full-time.

Kaikōura's Economy

The economy of the Kaikōura District was valued at $232 million in 2020. Tourism is a very important part of the local economy. The 2016 earthquake caused a big drop in visitors. The COVID-19 pandemic also affected tourism in 2020–21. However, by 2024, tourism in the town had recovered.

In 2020, tourism contributed 24.8% of the district's total economy. In 2023, tourism provided 27.6% of jobs in Kaikōura District. Hotels and food services made up another 18.5% of jobs.

Besides ecotourism activities like whale, seal, and bird watching, new tourism ideas are being developed. Kaikōura District has been recognized as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, which is great for stargazing. A long walking and cycling trail called the Whale Trail is also being built from Picton to Kaikōura.

Culture in Kaikōura

In Māori mythology, the Kaikōura Peninsula (Te Taumanu-o-te-waka-a-Māui) is where Māui sat when he fished the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) out of the sea.

The local Māori people of Kaikōura are Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu. They have traditional authority over this area. Takahanga Marae is a marae (tribal meeting ground) for Ngāi Tahu and its local branch, Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura. The current marae building opened in 2001. It includes the Maru Kaitatea wharenui (meeting house). Many artists, both Māori and Pākehā, helped create the carvings and artworks for the wharenui.

Amazing Biodiversity

Kaikōura's economy now relies a lot on visitors who come to see the amazing biodiversity of the area, especially in the ocean. The Kaikōura canyon is a deep underwater canyon near the Kaikōura Peninsula. It is known as a "bio-diversity hotspot." This means that currents from the deep ocean bring up a lot of food, creating rich feeding grounds for many different seabirds and marine mammals along the Kaikōura coast.

A group called Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura, Kaikōura Coastal Marine Guardians, was formed in 2005. Their goal was to create plans for how to use and protect the Kaikōura coast. Their work led to the Kaikōura (Te Tai o Marokura) Marine Management Act in 2014. This law created the Kaikōura marine management area. It includes a new marine reserve, special areas for whales and fur seals, and new fishing rules. It also recognized taiapure (traditional Māori fishing grounds).

Hikurangi Marine Reserve

The Hikurangi Marine Reserve is a marine reserve off the Kaikōura coast. It covers a large area of 10,416 hectares south of the town, including part of the Kaikōura canyon. This reserve was created in 2014. It is the largest and deepest marine reserve next to any of New Zealand's three main islands. No fishing, harvesting, or mining is allowed in the reserve.

Kaikōura Whale Sanctuary

The Kaikōura (Te Tai o Marokura) Marine Management Act 2014 also created the Te Rohe o Te Whānau Puha Whale Sanctuary. This sanctuary covers 4686 square kilometers. It stretches 45 kilometers north and south of the Kaikōura peninsula and 56 kilometers out to sea. This area provides extra protection for marine mammals.

Marine Mammals

Many different marine mammals can be seen in the Kaikōura region. These include whales, dolphins, and New Zealand fur seals. The Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 protects these animals. Rules are in place to guide how people should behave near marine mammals. Businesses that offer tours to see marine mammals need special permits.

Whales in Kaikōura

Whale watching is a very popular tourist activity in Kaikōura. It brings a lot of money to the local economy. Sperm whales can be seen all year round, usually about 23 kilometers offshore. Humpback whales are often seen in June and July when they migrate for winter. Orca can be seen from December to March.

Dolphins in Kaikōura

Several types of dolphins live in the waters off Kaikōura. These include Dusky dolphins and the endangered Hector's dolphin.

Seabirds of Kaikōura

New Zealand has many different types of shags, penguins, petrels, and albatrosses. Some people call it the "seabird capital of the world." However, some of these seabird species are decreasing in number, and many are critically endangered.

Notable seabirds seen off Kaikōura include:

• Fourteen types of albatross, such as Wandering and Northern royal.
• Ten types of petrel, like Cook's and Cape.
• Seven types of shearwater, including Buller's and Hutton's.
• Four types of skua, such as Arctic.
• Four types of storm petrel, like White-faced.
• Four types of penguin, including Little and Yellow-eyed.
• Two types of giant petrel: Southern Giant Petrel and Northern Giant Petrel.

Other seabirds often seen are Pied shags, Spotted shag, and Australasian gannet.

From a local conservation point of view, the Hutton's shearwater, the Red-billed gull, and the Little penguin are especially important seabirds in the Kaikōura region.

Hutton's Shearwater

Hutton's shearwater

The Hutton's shearwater (Puffinus huttoni), also called Kaikōura tītī, is an endangered seabird. It lives in the waters around Australia and New Zealand. However, it only breeds in the Seaward Kaikōura Range in New Zealand. It is the only seabird in the world that nests in mountains. Nests have been found at heights from 1200 to 1800 meters.

The Kowhai Valley and Shearwater Stream Important Bird Area has the only two remaining mountain breeding colonies. A new, safe colony was created on the Kaikōura peninsula to help protect them. This was done after six other colonies were destroyed by wild pigs.

These birds fly at night. Bright lights can confuse them. Young birds are especially at risk. They can crash-land on roads in the town. Once on the ground, they usually cannot fly again. This makes them easy targets for cars, dogs, or cats. Conservation groups in Kaikōura rescue these stranded birds. They also ask people to reduce bright lights to help the birds.

Red-billed Gull

Red-billed gull colony, Kaikōura

The Red-billed gull, also known as tarāpunga, is a bird native to New Zealand. The Kaikōura peninsula has one of the three largest breeding colonies of these gulls. However, the number of gulls here is decreasing a lot. In contrast, the population of Red-billed gulls is growing at a colony in Otago Peninsula, where animals that hunt them are controlled.

Little Penguin

The Little penguin, or kororā, lives along the Kaikōura coastline. These birds can get caught in fishing nets. On land, they are in danger from cars and from predators like rats and pet dogs. A recent study of 75 kilometers of Kaikōura coastline found only one breeding colony. It was in small, separate areas around the southern part of the Kaikōura peninsula.

Shorebirds

Banded dotterel

Banded Dotterel

The double-banded plover, known in New Zealand as the banded dotterel or pohowera, is a bird that nests on stony beaches. It can be found around the Kaikōura peninsula and South Bay. This species is listed as Nationally Vulnerable, meaning it is at risk.

The success of banded dotterel breeding in Kaikōura has been greatly affected by cats hunting them. A community plan is being developed to protect the nesting areas for these shorebirds at South Bay. This plan has support from Environment Canterbury, Kaikōura District Council, University of Canterbury, and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.

Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary

An effort began in 2022 to get international recognition for a dark-sky preserve in the Kaikōura area. This was done to help reduce problems that bright lights cause for Hutton's shearwaters. The Kaikōura District Council had already changed streetlights to make them safer for the birds.

In April 2022, the Mayor of Kaikōura said that the dark-sky reserve idea had full support from the council. They believed it would bring more tourists, especially in winter. The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust applied for the International Dark Sky Sanctuary status in August 2024. The status was announced on September 11, 2024. The sanctuary covers 2,039 square kilometers, which is about 98% of the Kaikōura District, not including the main town. The Trust plans to apply for the Kaikōura township to also be recognized as an international dark sky community.

Town Infrastructure

After the 2016 earthquake, many of Kaikōura District Council's facilities were replaced or improved. This included replacing old water pipes from the 1920s and many roads. Because of these upgrades, Kaikōura is in a better financial position than many other councils. They won't need to replace these things for the next 30 years.

Hospital

Funding was announced in 2013 to rebuild the 100-year-old Kaikōura Hospital. The new hospital was finished in April 2016. It has space for general doctors, physiotherapy, dental care, eye care, maternity services, and emergency medical facilities. It cost $13.4 million to build.

Kaikōura Civic Centre

Kaikōura Civic Centre with the distinctive wooden craypot (2021)

The Kaikōura Civic Centre was completed in 2016. It has a unique large "cray pot" (crayfish trap) on the outside. This represents Kaikōura's strong connection to the sea. The building houses the offices for the Kaikōura District Council, the Kaikōura Library, and the Kaikōura Museum.

Hotel

A new 4.5-star hotel, costing $35 million, was planned to open in September 2021. However, work was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of international tourists. The hotel, which has 118 bedrooms, is expected to boost Kaikōura's economy. It eventually opened in October 2022.

Transport in Kaikōura

Road Transport

State Highway 1 runs right through the town.

Air Travel

Kaikōura has a small airport about 6 kilometers south of the town center. Kaikoura Airport is mainly used for tourist flights to see whales. Small private and charter flights can also use it. There are flights to Wellington with Air Kaikoura.

Rail Transport

Coastal Pacific locomotive, Kaikōura

Kaikōura is on the Main North Line, which is the northern part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. The railway line north of Kaikōura opened on March 13, 1944. The line south of the town opened on December 15, 1945, completing the full line from Christchurch to Picton.

Kaikōura is a stop for the Coastal Pacific passenger train. This train connects the town with Christchurch to the south and Picton to the north. From Picton, people can take Cook Strait ferries. Kaikōura Station was the last station in New Zealand to have a special refreshment room for passengers. This room closed in 1988 when the train started offering food on board.

Freight trains also pass through Kaikōura. They mainly carry goods between Christchurch and the Interislander rail ferries at Picton.

The Main North Line was damaged during the November 2016 earthquake. It was closed for repairs and reopened for freight trains on September 15, 2017. The Coastal Pacific passenger train started running again after all repairs were finished in mid-2018.

Education in Kaikōura

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

Media in Kaikōura

Newspapers

The main newspapers for Kaikōura are the weekly Kaikoura Star (published on Wednesdays) and the daily The Marlborough Express (Monday to Friday). The daily newspaper The Press, based in Christchurch, is also available. All these papers are owned by Fairfax New Zealand.

Radio

Kaikōura has three local FM radio stations. These are More FM Marlborough, Blue FM (a local Kaikōura station), and Tahu FM (broadcast from Christchurch). You can also receive signals from other stations like The Breeze and Radio New Zealand National.

Amenities in Kaikōura

Mayfair Theatre

Mayfair Theatre, Kaikōura

The Mayfair Theatre is an art deco building on the Esplanade. It first opened in 1935 as a place for movies and concerts. In 1985, the building was put up for sale. By 1986, the community bought it through fundraising efforts.

The building was badly damaged in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and could not be repaired. However, the community raised money again to build a new cinema and performance venue on the same spot. They kept the original 1934 art deco front. After a $3.6 million restoration, the building reopened in November 2020 as the Mayfair Arts and Culture Centre Te Whare Toi ō Kaikōura. It has two movie screens and space for art exhibitions.

Swimming Pool

The Kaikōura swimming pool on the Esplanade was also badly damaged in the 2016 earthquake. This left Kaikōura without a public pool for five years. A charity was set up to raise money for a new pool. They raised $3.7 million for the building. The Kaikōura District Council gave $1 million, the COVID Recovery Fund gave $1 million, and the Kaikōura Community Op Shop gave $100,000. The Kaikōura Aquatic Centre opened in November 2021. It has a 25-meter lap pool, a smaller pool for learners, and a toddler pool.

Horse Racing

The Kaikōura race course is located at South Bay. It is managed by the Kaikōura Trotting Club. The club started in 1914. The first Kaikōura Trotting Cup was won by a horse named Kintail. In 2021, the Kaikōura Trotting Cup weekend was moved to Addington Raceway in Christchurch due to COVID-19 rules.

Golf Course

The Kaikōura golf club was started in 1911. The first nine-hole course was at the South Bay Domain. In 1935, the course moved to a new nine-hole course near the Kowhai River. More holes were added over time, and by 1963, it became an 18-hole course. The Koura Bay golf resort, just north of Kaikōura, also has a nine-hole golf course.

Notable People from Kaikōura

• Pat Boot – a middle-distance runner who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics and won medals at the 1938 British Empire Games.
• Thomas Cooke – a soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during World War I.
• Aston Greathead – a famous artist.
• Ted Howard – a conservationist.
• Trevor Howse – a Ngāi Tahu leader and researcher.
• Ailsa McGilvary – a bird conservationist and photographer.
• Bert Sandos – a rower who won medals at the 1930 British Empire Games and competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.
• Mark Solomon – a Māori leader and chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
• Julie Syme – a community service leader.
• Melville Syme – a community service leader.
• Ian Walker – a long-serving Chief Fire Officer for the Kaikōura volunteer fire brigade.
• Cora Wilding – a physiotherapist known for promoting outdoor activities and children's health camps.
• John Wood – a diplomat and former chancellor of the University of Canterbury.

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See also

In Spanish: Kaikoura para niños