Kaikorai Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kaikorai Valley
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Suburb
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The former Roslyn Woollen Mill buildings in Bradford
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 Kaikorai Valley
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Dunedin |
| Area | |
| • Land | 454 ha (1,122 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 3,270 |
  Kaikorai Valley  |
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Kaikorai Valley is a long, wide valley located in the western part of Dunedin, New Zealand. It's about 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of the city center. A small stream called the Kaikorai Stream flows through the valley from the northeast to the southwest.
This valley offers a useful path into central Dunedin, known as Kaikorai Valley Road. It helps people avoid the very steep hills of Lookout Point and Caversham. Instead, it provides a gentler climb to the top of Stuart Street in Roslyn, before a steep drop into the city's heart.
The valley is mostly filled with light industrial businesses and wholesale stores. This means you'll find many factories, warehouses, and places that sell goods in bulk. The land to the west of the valley is more rural, while the eastern side has many homes. The ridge on the eastern side was once part of an ancient volcano's crater wall!
The Kaikorai Valley is home to three main suburbs: Kaikorai, Bradford, and Kenmure. Another suburb, Burnside, is at the valley's end, near where Kaikorai Valley Road meets the Dunedin Southern Motorway, which is part of State Highway 1.
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Kaikorai: The Valley's Head
The suburb of Kaikorai is located at the very top of the valley. This area is mainly residential, meaning it has many houses. It's close to where Kaikorai Valley Road meets Stuart Street. West of this point, Stuart Street changes into Taieri Road.
Taieri Road connects to outer suburbs like Halfway Bush and Helensburgh. It then crosses a rugged area called Three Mile Hill before reaching the Taieri Plains. A busy intersection here links Stuart Street, Taieri Road, and Kaikorai Valley Road. It also connects to Highgate, which is the main road through Roslyn (just east of Kaikorai) and Maori Hill. The suburb of Wakari is just northwest of Kaikorai.
In Kaikorai, you can find a KFC restaurant, a bowling alley, and a sports ground called Ellis Park. Near the southern end of the suburb, there's an important road junction that connects Kaikorai Valley Road to the suburb of Brockville in the west.
Bradford: Central Valley Life
Bradford is a smaller suburb located in the middle of the Kaikorai Valley. It also includes a few streets just to the west. Like other parts of the lower valley, Bradford has many businesses. You'll see wholesalers and car dealerships here.
Bradford Primary School is in this suburb. The area was named after Bradford in Yorkshire, England. This is because the English city was famous for its important textile mill industry, just like this part of Dunedin once was.
Near the border of Bradford and Kaikorai, close to where old mills used to be, a road junction connects Kaikorai Valley Road with Stone Street. Stone Street quickly goes up the hill to meet the ridge at Belleknowes. A disused quarry, which is an old, unused stone pit, is a noticeable feature along this road.
Kenmure: Lower Valley Homes
Kenmure covers much of the lower part of the valley. It also includes the hillsides immediately to its east, between Kaikorai Valley Road and Mornington Road. Most homes in Kenmure are reached by Kenmure Road, which climbs the hill, or by smaller streets leading off it.
This large suburb is mostly residential. However, it also has more wholesale businesses, some light industrial factories, and several car sales yards, all located along Kaikorai Valley Road. Kenmure is connected by Mornington Road to Mornington in the north and Balaclava in the south.
A major landmark in Kenmure is Kaikorai Valley College. This is one of Dunedin's larger secondary schools, located on Kaikorai Valley Road. It was formerly known as Kaikorai Valley High School and Kenmure Intermediate School.
Kaikorai Valley's People
Kaikorai Valley covers an area of about 4.54 square kilometers (1.75 square miles). As of 2023, it has an estimated population of around 3,126 people. This means there are about 689 people living in each square kilometer.
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 3,048 | — |
| 2013 | 3,054 | +0.03% |
| 2018 | 3,126 | +0.47% |
The population has grown slightly over the years. In 2018, there were 3,126 people living here, which was a small increase from 2013 and 2006. There were more females than males. About 19% of the people were under 15 years old.
The people living in Kaikorai Valley come from many different backgrounds. Most residents are of European or Pākehā descent. There are also significant numbers of Māori, Pasifika, and Asian people living here. About 16.5% of the people were born overseas.
When it comes to religion, many people in Kaikorai Valley say they have no religion. Others identify as Christian, while smaller groups follow Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or other faiths.
Many adults in the area have completed higher education, with about a quarter having a bachelor's degree or higher. Most adults are employed, working either full-time or part-time.
Education in Kaikorai Valley
The valley is home to two important schools:
- Kaikorai Valley College is a state secondary school. It teaches students from Year 7 to Year 13 (ages 11-18). The school opened in 1958 and has about 381 students.
- Bradford School is a state primary school. It teaches students from Year 1 to Year 6 (ages 5-10). It has about 166 students.
Both of these schools are co-educational, meaning they teach both boys and girls.
