Media

• For tourism statistics about the Waitaki District access the Accommodation Data Programme and the Tourism Electronic Card Transactions (TECTs).

  The ADP collects a small amount of data from accommodation providers each month, collates it, and then publishes reports that can be used to benchmark performance and monitor the industry.

  The Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates (MRTEs) provide an estimate of regional monthly expenditure on tourism from both international and domestic consumers.

• The Waitaki District has a land area of 7,450²km; the only territorial authority in the South Island of New Zealand that straddles the border between two regions (Canterbury and Otago).

  A major reason for the divide across two regions was the governance of the Waitaki River, which forms a political boundary between Canterbury and Otago. With major hydro schemes on this river, it was decided to place the entire catchment in one administrative region, thus forming the split.

• The population of the Waitaki District is 23,200 (June 2020), which is 0.5% of NZ’s total population.
• Ōamaru (pronounced awe-ah-mah-roo) is the only town in the Waitaki District with a population greater than 1,000 people. It’s home to 13,700 people.

  Ōamaru is the steampunk capital of the world and New Zealand’s most welcoming town.

• Other settlements in the Waitaki District include (but are not limited to): Ōhau, Omarama, Benmore, Ōtemātata, Kurow, Duntroon, Ngāpara, Enfield, Kākānui, Herbert, Hampden, Moeraki, Dunback, Macraes, Palmerston, and Weston.
  View all of our destinations here.
  NB: While the use of macrons in Ngāpara and Kākānui are unofficial Linz recommends the usage.
• The Waitaki is the large, braided river that drains Te Manahuna (the Mackenzie Basin) and enters Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) on the east coast of Te Waipounamu. The name Waitaki literally means “the waterway of tears” and is often referred to as representing the tears of Aoraki. The river was an important traditional travel route, providing direct access to the rich inland mahinga kai resources of Te Manahuna and Central Otago. The use of mōkihi is strongly associated with the Waitaki and is one of the few places where this traditional practice continues today.

  NB: Sourced from kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas

• The Waitaki Whitestone Aspiring Global Geopark is the first Geopark in New Zealand. A Geopark is the UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) designation that gives world-wide status to a defined area of international geological significance which tells the story of how the geology and landscape has shaped the lives of its inhabitants, be they people, animals, or plants.

  Geosites include (but are not limited to): Paritea (Clay Cliffs), Maerewhenua rock art site, Waipata (Earthquakes), Anatini, Elephant Rocks, Valley of the Whales, Matakaea (Shag Point), and the Moeraki Boulders.

The Waitaki District is also home to:

• The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail—known as the “jewel in the crown of the 22 Great Rides” is New Zealand’s longest single cycling trail at 316km.
• Macraes Gold Mine—the country’s largest active gold producing mine, having produced over 5 million ounces of gold since 1990.
• The birthplace of New Zealand’s social security system.
• Rainbow Confectionery—the largest confectionery manufacturer of scale in New Zealand.
• Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony—selected twice as a finalist in the NZ Tourism Awards for its success in environmental protection and research.
• Benmore Dam—with a generating capacity of 540 megawatts (720,000hp), Benmore Station is the second largest hydro station in New Zealand behind Manapouri, and the largest earth dam in New Zealand.