Timaru facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Timaru Te Tihi-o-Maru  (Māori)
City
View down Stafford Street in 2006
Timaru Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Timaru District
Established	13 July 1868
Area
• Land	2,736.54 km2 (1,056.58 sq mi)
• Urban	33.98 km2 (13.12 sq mi)
Highest elevation	95 m (312 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (June 2023)
• Urban	28,900
• Urban density	850.5/km2 (2,203/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode	7910
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu
Website	timaru.govt.nz

Timaru (pronounced "Tim-uh-roo") is a busy port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand. It's located on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island. Timaru is about 157 kilometers (97 miles) southwest of Christchurch. It is also about 196 kilometers (122 miles) northeast of Dunedin.

The city of Timaru is home to about 29,000 people. It is the biggest city in South Canterbury. It's also the third-largest urban area in the Canterbury Region. Only Christchurch and Rolleston are bigger. Timaru is the main town for the Timaru District. This district includes nearby towns like Geraldine, Pleasant Point, and Temuka. Together, these areas have a population of about 48,000 people.

Caroline Bay beach is a popular spot for fun and relaxation. It's very close to Timaru's main center. Just north of the port, it's a great place to visit. Beyond Caroline Bay is Washdyke, an industrial area. It's a key spot where State Highway 8 begins. This road leads to the Mackenzie Country. From there, you can reach places like Lake Tekapo and Aoraki / Mount Cook.

Timaru is built on rolling hills. These hills were formed by ancient lava flows. They came from the extinct Mt Horrible volcano. This volcano last erupted thousands of years ago. Because of this, many main streets in Timaru go up and down. This is different from the flat Canterbury Plains to the north. The local volcanic rock is used to build "bluestone" buildings.

Timaru's Past

The Name of Timaru

The exact meaning of the name 'Timaru' is not fully known. Some people think it comes from the Māori words Te Maru. This could mean 'a place of shelter'. Others believe it comes from tī, meaning a cabbage tree, and maru, meaning 'shady'. So, it might mean 'shady cabbage tree'.

Early Māori Life

Long before Europeans arrived, Māori canoes used the Timaru area. It was a resting place for journeys along the eastern coast. The region has over 500 sites with Māori rock art. These are mostly found in caves and rock overhangs. You can see them in the Opuha and Ōpihi river valleys. These valleys are west of modern Timaru.

Experts believe Māori tribes lived here permanently before 1400 AD. In the 17th or 18th century, the Ngāti Mamoe tribe moved south. They were pushed into Fiordland by the Ngāi Tahu tribe. The Ngāi Tahu came from the North Island. Today, Te Runanga o Arowhenua is the local Māori group. Their meeting place (marae) is near Temuka.

European Arrivals and Growth

Sacred Heart Basilica, built in 1911

View from bus station in Timaru

European settlement started in 1839. The Weller brothers built a whaling station at Patiti Point. This is near the city center today. A ship called The Caroline gave its name to a nearby bay. Later, the Rhodes brothers set up a sheep farm called The Levels.

More settlers arrived in 1859 on the ship SS Strathallan. It brought 120 immigrants from England. There were arguments over land between the Rhodes brothers and local officials. This led to two separate towns in the port area. They were called Government Town and Rhodestown. In 1868, these towns joined to become one community. Because of this, some main streets still don't line up perfectly. Stafford Street, the main road, followed an old bullock wagon path.

After many ships were lost at sea, a new port was planned. Work on the artificial port began in 1877. This project caused sand to build up against the northern wall. This was the start of the large land reclamation at Caroline Bay. This area is still growing today. Timaru continued to grow in the 20th century. Many homes were built in the wooden colonial style. The Sacred Heart Basilica opened in 1911.

Where is Timaru?

Timaru is located along the Pacific Ocean coast. Much of the land behind the city is farmland. To the north are the Canterbury Plains.

Neighbouring cities, towns and places.

	Fairlie and Mount Cook Village	Geraldine	Ashburton and Christchurch
	Twizel		Pacific Ocean
		Timaru
	Queenstown	Oamaru and Dunedin

Timaru's Suburbs

Suburbs of Timaru

Timaru has many different neighborhoods, called suburbs. Some of these include:

• Washdyke
• Smithfield
• Grantlea
• Waimataitai
• Marchwiel
• Timaru Central
• Maori Hill
• Highfield
• Glenwood
• Gleniti
• Seaview
• West End
• Watlington
• Parkside
• Kensington
• Redruth
• Oceanview
• Port Timaru

Timaru's Weather

Timaru has a fairly dry and mild climate. It's similar to nearby Ashburton and Christchurch. This type of climate is called an oceanic climate. Summers are warm, and winters are mild. The highest temperature ever recorded was 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) in February 2011. The lowest was -9.1 °C (15.6 °F) in August 1998. Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year. Very little of it is snow.

People of Timaru

The Timaru urban area is a medium-sized city. It covers about 34 square kilometers (13 square miles). In 2018, its population was 27,498 people. This was an increase of 1,236 people since 2013. There were 11,502 homes. There were slightly more females than males. About 17.3% of the people were under 15 years old. About 22.4% were 65 or older.

Most people in Timaru are of European descent (89.2%). About 9.3% are Māori. Other groups include Pasifika (2.4%) and Asian (5.2%). About 13.8% of people were born outside New Zealand.

When asked about religion, 47.8% said they had no religion. About 40.9% were Christian. Smaller numbers followed other religions like Hinduism, Islam, or Buddhism.

Timaru's Economy

Timaru is an important town for farming services. It is also a key port for the South Canterbury region. It is one of the biggest cargo ports in the South Island. Many factories here process and pack meat, dairy, and other farm products. These are then shipped out. Timaru is also the second-largest fishing port in New Zealand.

Shopping in Timaru

Most of the shops are found around Stafford Street. There are also several local shopping malls. These malls have plenty of parking.

Fun Things to Do in Timaru

South Canterbury Museum

The South Canterbury Museum is the main museum for the area. It has displays about the land and environment. You can see fossils and Māori rock art. There are also exhibits on early settlers and local sea history. The museum also has information about Richard Pearse. He was a local inventor who tried to fly in the early 1900s.

The Aigantighe Art Gallery is a large art museum. Its name is a Scots Gaelic word. It sounds like "egg and tie." The gallery has art from New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia, and Europe. It also has a sculpture garden. The gallery opened in 1956. It is in a house built in 1908.

Timaru has many open spaces, gardens, and parks. The The Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden at Caroline Bay Park is a highlight. The park has a mini golf course, a roller skating rink, and a maze. It also hosts music events. The annual Summer Carnival takes place here during Christmas and New Year. South of the city center are the Timaru Botanic Gardens. They were started in 1864. They have many roses and native tree ferns. To the west is Centennial Park Reserve. It opened in 1940. It has a peaceful 3.5 km (2.2 miles) walkway. This path follows the Otipua Creek valley.

The DB Mainland Brewery offers tours and tasting sessions. The Caroline Bay Carnival has live shows, games, and rides. It runs from Boxing Day until mid-January. Aoraki Tourism helps visitors find things to do in the Timaru District.

Recreation and Leisure

Performing Arts

The Theatre Royal on Stafford Street used to be a main spot for live shows. It is currently closed for repairs. The South Canterbury Drama League puts on shows at the Playhouse.

Public Libraries

The Timaru District Library has branches in Timaru, Temuka, and Geraldine. The first reading room opened in 1862. It offered newspapers and books. In 1870, the Mechanics Institute was created. It aimed to provide a library and reading room.

The Timaru Public Library officially opened in 1909. It was a Carnegie library. Andrew Carnegie gave money to build it. The rule was that reading rooms had to be open to everyone. Lending books had to be free for local taxpayers. The current library opened in 1979 on Sophia Street.

Sports in Timaru

Sporting Venues

Timaru has many great sports facilities. They are built for sports like rugby, tennis, and swimming. There are also places for motor racing, cricket, and golf. Aorangi Park is Timaru's main sports area. The CBAY Complex has a swimming pool, restaurant, and gym. The Timaru International Motor Raceway is one of only four sealed racing tracks in the South Island. Horse races are held at the Phar Lap Raceway.

Football

Timaru's main football field is Sir Basil Arthur Park. It has four fields for older players and six for younger ones. Football is also played at other parks. Local clubs include West End AFC and Northern Hearts.

Golf

Timaru has many golf clubs and well-kept courses. These include:

• Highfield Golf Club
• Gleniti Golf Club
• Timaru Golf Club

Nearby, you can also find:

• Pleasant Point Golf Club
• St. Andrews Golf Club
• Maungati Golf Club (9 holes)
• Temuka Golf Club

Rugby

The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union is based in Timaru. Fraser Park is where local rugby games are played. After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Super Rugby team, the Crusaders, played two games in Timaru.

Surfing

Patiti Point, near Timaru, has a left-hand reef break. This means waves break to the left. It works well with swells from the east or south. Jack's Point, 3 km (1.9 miles) south, has both left and right-hand reef breaks at high tide. Lighthouse Reef, a short walk south, also has them. Very strong southerly swells create huge waves along the Timaru coast. These are only for very experienced surfers.

Inline Speed Skating

Timaru has New Zealand's biggest Inline speed skating teams. They are called South Canterbury. They hold national records in several events. The club has hosted many national tournaments. They also hold the yearly Tour of Timaru.

Getting Around Timaru

Timaru is on State Highway 1 (SH1). This is the main road along the eastern coast of the South Island. You can find regular bus services to major cities. These include Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown. Buses leave from the Visitor Information Centre.

The Main South Line railway runs through Timaru. It is important for moving goods. Passenger train services stopped in 2002. Richard Pearse Airport is north of the town. It handles small planes and short domestic flights. There are regular flights to Wellington.

The "Timaru Link" bus service runs on weekdays. The "MyWay" on-demand bus service runs daily.

Utilities

Timaru gets its water from the Pareora River and Ōpihi River. The water is stored in the Claremont Reservoir. Timaru's water is treated with ozone and chlorine to make it safe.

Education in Timaru

Timaru has many schools for different age groups.

Primary Schools

• Barton Rural Primary School
• Beaconsfield Primary School
• Bluestone Primary School
• Gleniti Primary School
• Grantlea Downs
• Highfield Primary School
• Oceanview Heights Primary School
• Sacred Heart Primary
• St. Josephs School
• Timaru Christian School
• Timaru South School
• Waimataitai Primary School

Secondary Schools

• Aoraki Alternative Education Centre
• Craighead Diocesan School
• Mountainview High School
• Roncalli College
• Timaru Boys' High School
• Timaru Girls' High School

Tertiary Education

• Ara Institute of Canterbury (for higher education after high school)

Media in Timaru

Print Media

The Timaru Herald is the local daily newspaper. It has been published since the mid-1800s. Papers are printed in Ashburton and sent throughout the region. The Herald is owned by Stuff. The High Country Herald is also published by Stuff. It prints 43,000 copies.

The Timaru Courier is a free weekly community newspaper. It prints over 24,000 copies. It is delivered every Thursday to local homes. The Courier is owned by Allied Press.

Radio

The Breeze radio station broadcasts live from Timaru on 89.9FM or 92.3FM. Timaru also has a local FM station, 100.3FM South Canterbury. There is also a volunteer-run Hospital Radio 88.0/107.5. It celebrated 30 years in 2019.

Famous People from Timaru

Many notable people have come from Timaru.

Academics

• Hugh D. Wilson, a botanist who studies plants.

Business

• Henry Le Cren, a pioneer in Timaru and the first European trader.

Film and Television

• Phillip Leishman, a well-known broadcaster.
• Kevin Smith, an actor.
• Josh Thomson, an actor.
• Jane Wills, an actor.

Entertainment

• Sam Wills, a comedian.

Journalism

• Allen Curnow, a poet and journalist.
• John Hardcastle, a journalist and amateur scientist.

Medicine

• Edith Tennent, a nurse and Matron of Dunedin Hospital, born in Timaru.

Music

• Peter Dawkins, a record producer and musician.
• Michael Houstoun, a concert pianist.

Art

• Rosemary Campbell, a painter.
• Betty Curnow, a painter and printmaker.

Drama

• Violet Targuse, a playwright.

Religious Leaders

• Reginald Delargey, a Roman Catholic cardinal.

Aviation

• Richard Pearse, a farmer, inventor, and early aviator.

Sports

• Uini Atonio, a professional rugby player for France.
• Hamish Bennett, a cricketer and former Black Cap.
• Craig Cumming, a former Black Cap cricketer and sports broadcaster.
• Bob Fitzsimmons, a World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
• Ross Gillespie, a New Zealand Olympic field hockey player.
• Tony Lamborn, a professional rugby player for the USA.
• Brendan Laney, a former professional rugby player and sports broadcaster.
• Danyon Loader, an Olympic swimming champion, born in Timaru.
• Jack Lovelock, a New Zealand runner and Olympic 1500m champion.
• Hayden Paddon, a rally driver and world champion.
• Mark Moreton Parker, a New Zealand cricketer.
• Murray Parker, a New Zealand cricketer.
• Aki Seiuli, a New Zealand rugby player.
• Haidee Tiffen, a New Zealand women's cricketer.
• John Ward, a New Zealand cricketer.
• Tomas Walsh, a New Zealand shotputter.
• Kalolo Tuiloma, a professional rugby player for Samoa.