Fairlie, New Zealand

Fairlie
Town
A cast sculpture mounted on a boulder. The sculpture depicts a long haired and bearded man, dressed in a shirt and trousers and carrying a staff. By his side is a sheep dog. Both the man and the dog are facing right. A brass plaque is on the boulder reading "James MacKenzie & dog:Statue by Sam Mahon:Unveiled 7 November 2003". Behind the statue is a paved and treed area with small square patches of grass. A small service road is to the left of the statue, flanked by parked cars and shops.
A statue of James Mckenzie and his dog, in the centre of the town
Map
Coordinates: 44°06′S 170°50′E / 44.100°S 170.833°E / -44.100; 170.833
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authorityMackenzie District
WardOpuha Ward
CommunityFairlie Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityMackenzie District Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of MackenzieAnne Munro
 • Waitaki MPMiles Anderson
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total
4.95 km2 (1.91 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
960
 • Density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode
7925
Area code03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu
Websitehttp://www.mackenzie.govt.nz/

Fairlie is a Mackenzie District service town (or township) located in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. The estimated population was 960 as of June 2024.[2] Being on state highway 8 between Christchurch (182 km, 2 hours 20 minutes drive) and Queenstown (300 km 3.5 hours drive), tourism is fast becoming a major industry within the town. Kimbell is 8 km west of Fairlie via state highway 8. Geraldine is 45 km east via state highway 79 and Timaru is 58 km southeast of Fairlie via state highway 8. Fairlie sits at an altitude of 301 metres above sea level.[3]

From 1884 to 1968, the town was served by the Fairlie Branch railway,[4][5] though until 1934, this branch line actually terminated a kilometre beyond Fairlie in Eversley.

Fairlie is commonly known as the gateway to the Mackenzie Basin.[6][7] The town was initially called Fairlie's Creek, a name purportedly chosen by David Hamilton, the brother-in-law of James Lister (or Lizter), who had built a boarding house near the creek. The name Hamilton had been suggested, but was rejected due to similarity to the City of Hamilton in the North Island. David Hamilton suggested the town be named Fairlie after Fairlie, Scotland, which he had visited as part of his honeymoon.[8] After 1892, the town's name was shortened to Fairlie.[9]

The Ōpihi River runs past Fairlie.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Worldwide Elevation Finder". elevation.maplogs.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Opening of the Railway to Fairlie Creek", Timaru Herald (31 January 1884): 3.
  5. ^ "Branch line closures a sign of the times but infuriating for locals". Kiwirail. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Fairlie". Discover New Zealand: A Wises Guide (9th ed.). 1994. p. 376.
  7. ^ "Things to see and do in Fairlie, New Zealand". newzealand.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Fairlie". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Fairlie | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2021.