kids encyclopedia robot

Mackenzie District facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Mackenzie District
Territorial authority district
Marko Several Lakes In McKenzie Basin.jpg
Mackenzie District within the South Island
Mackenzie District within the South Island
Country New Zealand
Island South Island
Region Canterbury
Communities
  • Tekapo
  • Twizel
  • Fairlie
Wards
  • Opuha
  • Pukaki
Formed 1989
Seat Fairlie
Area
 • Total 7,339.23 km2 (2,833.69 sq mi)
 • Land 7,138.59 km2 (2,756.23 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)
 • Total 5,690
 • Density 0.7753/km2 (2.0080/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
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:

  • Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

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.

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 7,138.59 km2 (2,756.23 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 5,690 as of June 2023, with a population density of 0.80 people per km2.

Ethnicities, 2023 Census
Ethnicity Population
New Zealand European
4,323
Māori
447
Pasifika
75
Asian
459
MELAA
108
Other
81
Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
2006 3,801 —    
2013 4,158 +1.29%
2018 4,866 +3.19%
2023 5,115 +1.00%

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.

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)
SA2 name Population Dwellings Median age Median income
Fairlie 885 480 47.3 years $25,700
Mackenzie Lakes 1,182 984 31.8 years $36,500
Opua 1,347 639 40.0 years $36,600
Twizel 1,455 1,485 46.5 years $31,400

Economy

Golden Season (11) (8114524551)
View near Twizel

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.

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.

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.

List of mayors

Name Term of office
Bruce Scott 1989-1992 reference to follow
Neil Anderson 1992–2001
Stan Scorringe 2001–2004
John O'Neill 2004–2010
Claire Barlow 2010–2016
Graham Smith 2016–2022
Anne Munro 2022–present
kids search engine
Mackenzie District Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.