Background The Waimakariri District is a short 20 minute drive north of Christchurch. The major urban areas are Rangiora and Kaiapoi, with key urban settlements including Woodend and Oxford, as well as a number of village and beach settlements. District population has grown from 49,989 in the 2013 census, to approximately 62,800 in 20191. Despite rapid growth, Waimakariri District has retained its rural/small town character. The district’s population is expected to increase to approximately 97,000 by 2048, which leads to increased opportunities within the visitor industry e.g. as locals host their friends and relatives. Key industries that contribute most to the district’s gross domestic product (in order of priority) include: construction, forestry/fishing/mining/ electronics, agriculture, manufacturing, property related businesses and retail trade. The visitor sector in the Waimakariri District has been growing steadily over the past decade with visitor spend in the district doubling between 2009 and 2019 (please refer to Figure 1.0 in the next section). Waimakariri District is ranked 46th of New Zealand’s 67 territorial local authorities in terms of visitor spend (according to the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates for the year ended August 2020). This position is around 60% of the total spend generated in neighbouring Hurunui with its ranking of 33rd and slightly below Selwyn district ranked at 41st. Enterprise North Canterbury is the official promotions agency for the Waimakariri District.
OXFORD
PEGASUS / WOODEND RANGIORA
PEGASUS BAY
KAIAPOI
Statistics New Zealand Post-Enumeration Survey 2018, estimated resident population projection for 2019 at 23 September 2020. 1
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