What is the Waitaki District?

The Waitaki River is the northern boundary of the Waitaki District, which reaches to beyond Palmerston in the south, Middlemarch in the south-west, Danseys Pass North to the west and Waitaki Valley towards the Southern Alps in the far north west.

Oamaru is the capital of this farming district, which has a dry climate. The rivers of the district provide trout and salmon fishing, which many say is world-class. Of note is the district's Victorian architecture and lava formations.

What are the Waitaki Valley and Waitaki River?

Waitaki Valley takes the Waitaki River through the Southern Alps foothills and numerous lakes formed by hydro electricity dams. Exotic trees are planted around the lakes and along the river in the valley.

Waitaki River travels from the Southern Alps foothills westwards to Canterbury’s east coast and is a southern boundary to the Waimate district. The Glenavy angling settlement makes use of the river’s excellent salmon fishing opportunities.

What does the name mean?

The name translates to water of sorrow or weeping.

What are the district's taglines?

• Home of New Zealand’s largest wallabies.
  
• The shortest distance from Christchurch to Queenstown is via Waimate.
  
• Centre of the South.