Wānaka
Wānaka
Wānaka (Māori) | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Wānaka east, with mountains in the background. | |
| Coordinates: 44°42′S 169°09′E / 44.700°S 169.150°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Otago |
| Territorial authority | Queenstown Lakes District |
| Ward | Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward |
| Community | Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Queenstown-Lakes District Council |
| • Regional council | Otago Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Queenstown-Lakes | Glyn Lewers |
| • Waitaki MP | Miles Anderson |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
• Total | 28.61 km2 (11.05 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 290 m (950 ft) |
| Population (June 2024) | |
• Total | 13,100 |
| • Density | 460/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 9305 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Wānaka (Māori pronunciation: [ˈwaːnaka] ⓘ) is a popular ski and summer resort town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. At the southern end of Lake Wānaka, it is at the start of the Clutha River and is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park.
Wānaka is primarily a resort town with both summer and winter seasons. Its economy is based on the many outdoor opportunities this offers.
Historically, Māori visited the Wānaka area to hunt and fish in summer, or on their way to seek pounamu (greenstone) on the West Coast. Ngāi Tahu abandoned their seasonal camps after a raid by a North Island war party in 1836.
The current town was founded as Pembroke during the gold rush of the 19th century, and renamed to Wanaka in 1940. Along with the rest of the Queenstown-Lakes District, Wānaka is growing rapidly, with the population increasing by 50% between 2005 and 2015.