Waikuku
Waikuku | |
|---|---|
Rural settlement | |
Waikuku Methodist Church | |
| Coordinates: 43°17′31″S 172°41′06″E / 43.292°S 172.685°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waimakariri District |
| Ward | Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward |
| Community | Woodend-Sefton Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waimakariri District Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Waimakariri | Dan Gordon |
| • Waimakariri MP | Matt Doocey |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.60 km2 (0.62 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024) | |
• Total | 150 |
| • Density | 94/km2 (240/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7473 |
| Area code | 03 |
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Waikuku is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, which sits 28 km north of central Christchurch. Waikuku lies 11.8 km (7.3 mi) south of Leithfield on state highway 1 and 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Woodend. In 1901 there were 86 people resident in Waikuku according to that year's census. Waikuku settlement had a population of 156 people at the time of the 2018 Census. It is popular with both those that commute into work in Christchurch each day and with owners of holiday houses. Waikuku was home to rope and twine works. This business started off using flax from local swamps. It closed in 1987. The nearby sandy beach and pine forests are popular with surfers, swimmers, campers and horse-riders, and the large estuary of the Ashley River hosts many species of birds.
Just south of Waikuku, on Preeces Road, are the remains of the Kaiapoi Pa, an important trading centre for Ngāi Tahu in the 18th century.