Twizel

Twizel
Map
Coordinates: 44°15′S 170°06′E / 44.250°S 170.100°E / -44.250; 170.100
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authorityMackenzie District
WardPukaki Ward
CommunityTwizel Community
Founded1968
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityMackenzie District Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of MackenzieAnne Munro
 • Waitaki MPMiles Anderson
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total
15.54 km2 (6.00 sq mi)
Elevation
470 m (1,540 ft)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
1,890
 • Density120/km2 (310/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
7901
Area code03
Twizel (centre distance) from the air, alongside Lake Ruataniwha. Lake Benmore is seen in the foreground.

Twizel (/ˈtwzəl/) is the largest town in the Mackenzie District, in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. The town was founded in 1968 to house construction workers on the Upper Waitaki Hydroelectric Scheme. Today, Twizel is a service and tourist town for visitors to the area. It has a resident population of 1,890 (June 2024);[2] during the summer, holidaymakers nearly triple the town's population.

Nearby Lake Ruataniwha supports rowing, sailing and water skiing. Twizel is 37 km (29 minutes drive) east of Lake Ōhau village, 30 km (20 minutes drive) north of Omarama and 60 km (42 minutes drive) south of Lake Tekapo.

  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.