Mackenzie District Explained

Mackenzie District
Settlement Type:Territorial authority district
Mapsize:200px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:New Zealand
Subdivision Type1:Island
Subdivision Name1:South Island
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Canterbury
Subdivision Type3:Communities
Subdivision Type4:Wards
Established Title:Formed
Established Date:1989
Seat:Fairlie
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Title1:Deputy Mayor
Leader Name1:Karen Morgan
Leader Title2:Territorial authority
Leader Name2:Mackenzie District Council
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:7339.23
Area Land Km2:7138.59
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postcode(s)
Postal Code:Map of postcodes

Mackenzie District is a local government district on New Zealand's South Island, administered by the Mackenzie District Council. It is part of the larger Canterbury Region. The region takes its name from the Mackenzie Basin, an elliptical intermontane basin which covers much of inland Canterbury.

Geography

Principal settlements

The Mackenzie District has four major settlements:

Other smaller settlements include:

Geographical features

Rivers:

Mountains:

Lakes:

Glaciers:

Skifields:

National parks:

Other features:

Climate

The Mackenzie District has a dry temperate-continental climate with clear, crisp snowy winters and long, hot summers. Autumn is known for being a riot of colour, while spring brings wildflowers blooming throughout the region, including lupins. The warm summer season is from November to February, with temperatures often passing 30 degrees. In the cooler winter season, from June to September, temperatures drop to below 0 degrees Celsius overnight, while sunny winter days average around 8 degrees and regular snowfall.[1]

History

The Mackenzie Basin was named in the 1850s by and after James Mckenzie, a Scottish-origin shepherd and sheep thief, and the name transferred to the modern district.

Demographics

Mackenzie District covers a land area of 7138.59km2[2] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Mackenzie District had a population of 5,115 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 249 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 957 people (23.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 4,437 dwellings. The median age was 41.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 831 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 885 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,457 (48.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 942 (18.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 84.5% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, 1.5% Pasifika, 9.0% Asian, 2.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders, and 1.6% other. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[3]

Mackenzie District had a population of 4,866 at the 2018 New Zealand census. There were 1,863 households, comprising 2,511 males and 2,352 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female.

The percentage of people born overseas was 24.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.7% had no religion, 37.1% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 1.2% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 777 (19.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 702 (17.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 555 people (13.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,451 (60.3%) people were employed full-time, 660 (16.2%) were part-time, and 30 (0.7%) were unemployed.

Individual wards
Name Area (km2) Population Density (per km2) Households !Median age Median income
Pukaki Ward 5,155.26 2,634 0.51 981 38.2 years $34,500
Opuha Ward 1,983.34 2,229 1.12 879 42.8 years $31,500
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800
Individual statistical areas in the Mackenzie district (2018 census)[4] !SA2 name!Population!Dwellings!Median age!Median income
Fairlie88548047.3 years$25,700
Mackenzie Lakes1,18298431.8 years$36,500
Opua1,34763940.0 years$36,600
Twizel1,4551,48546.5 years$31,400

Economy

In 2012, the Mackenzie District had 850 businesses who employed 1900 full time equivalent staff and generated $190 million dollars in revenue. The economy is based on hydroelectric generation, farming (including aquaculture) and tourism.[5]

Of the 267 farms in the Mackenzie District in 2012, 34% of these were sheep farms, 18% sheep and beef cattle, and 15% beef cattle. Minimal amounts of crop farming occurs in the Mackenzie District, with small amounts of barley (7,733 tonnes) and oats (2,265 tonnes) grown.[5]

A relatively sparsely settled area, the district does have a wide number of farms. However, in the late 2000s, numerous proposals for new farming operations have locals fearing that the agriculture will be transformed from often family-held farms to large agribusiness operations, causing increased local ecologic damage and siphoning off capital overseas.[6]

List of mayors

See main article: Mayor of Mackenzie.

Name Term of office
Bruce Scott1989-1992 reference to follow
Neil Anderson1992–2001[7]
Stan Scorringe2001–2004[8]
John O'Neill2004–2010[9]
Claire Barlow2010–2016[10]
Graham Smith2016–2022[11]
Anne Munro2022–present[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aoraki Mount Cook Mackenzie. mtcooknz.com. 2009-07-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20090802195951/http://www.mtcooknz.com/mackenzie/Climate/. 2009-08-02. dead.
  2. Web site: ArcGIS Web Application. 13 March 2022. statsnz.maps.arcgis.com.
  3. Web site: 2023 Census national and subnational usually resident population counts and dwelling counts. Microsoft Excel. Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa. 29 May 2024.
  4. Web site: 2018 Census place summaries Stats NZ. 2020-12-14. www.stats.govt.nz.
  5. Web site: Nick . Taylor . Simon . Harris . Wayne . McClintock . Mike . Mackay. May 2015. Upper Waitaki Limit Setting Process: Social-economic Profile of the Waitaki Catchment. 19 January 2022. Ecan.
  6. News: A national treasure is being squandered. 2010-02-08. The New Zealand Herald. 8 February 2010. Gary. Taylor.
  7. Web site: Health Minister announces DHB deputy chairs . 21 December 2001 . Scoop.co.nz.
  8. Web site: Mayoral Election Results 2004 Affecting the Mayors Taskforce For Jobs . Mayors Taskforce for Jobs.
  9. News: O'Neill plans family time . 8 October 2010 . Stuff.
  10. News: Receptionist becomes Mayor for Mackenzie . 10 October 2010 . Newshub. Watts . Jerram .
  11. News: 'Exciting times' for new Mackenzie mayor Graham Smith . 9 October 2016 . Stuff.
  12. Web site: Munro wins mayorship by clear margin . 10 October 2022 . Otago Daily Times.