Waimate District
Waimate District is a territorial authority district located in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. The main town is Waimate, while there are many smaller rural communities dispersed throughout the area. Its boundary to the south is the Waitaki River, to the west Lake Benmore and to the north-east the Pareora River.
Waimate District | |
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| Coordinates: 44°35′42″S 170°44′42″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury Region |
| Wards |
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| Government | |
| • Mayor | Craig Rowley |
| • Deputy Mayor | Sharyn Cain |
| • Territorial authority | Waimate District Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,582.19 km2 (1,383.09 sq mi) |
| • Land | 3,554.45 km2 (1,372.38 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2022)[1] | |
| • Total | 8,320 |
| • Density | 2.3/km2 (6.0/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode(s) | |
| Postcode(s) | 7924, 7972, 7971, 7977, 7978, 7979, 7980, 7984, 7988, 7999, 9498 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Website | www |
The district is administered by the Waimate District Council and regionally by the Canterbury Regional Council. John Coles, who was first elected as a councillor in 1994, was mayor from 2004 to his retirement at the 2013 local elections.[2]
The district is the only part of New Zealand where Bennett's wallabies are prolific, after their introduction from Australia in the 19th century. The animals are a mixed blessing locally, attracting tourists but being a farm pest, and culling measures have been taken in their slowly expanding territory.[3]