Waikari
Waikari is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.
Waikari | |
|---|---|
town | |
The Star and Garter Hotel in Waikari | |
| Coordinates: 42°58′S 172°41′E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Hurunui District |
| Ward | West Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Hurunui District Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Hurunui | Marie Black |
| • Kaikoura MP | Stuart Smith |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.79 km2 (0.31 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2023) | |
| • Total | 270 |
| • Density | 340/km2 (890/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time) |
| Postcode | 7420 |
Its Anglican parish church is the Church of Ascension, 79 Princes Street, Waikari, where William Orange was vicar in the 1920s.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "dig for water" for Waikari.
Waikari is located on State Highway 7 near the Weka Pass and was served by the Waiau Branch railway from 6 April 1882 until its closure on 15 January 1978. The section of the railway through the Weka Pass has been retained by the Weka Pass Railway and preserved trains operate between Waipara and Waikari.
A town water supply was first put to ratepayers in 1956 and the water supply and sewage works were completed in 1966. Fortnightly rubbish collection was in place in Waikari by 1973. In 1984, Waikari (and Hawarden) became the last towns in North Canterbury to be switched to an automatic telephone exchange.
The town is also located near the site of Māori cave art and rock drawings in the Weka Pass Reserve.