District Overview

Geography

Waimate is halfway between Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown, 10km inland and 47 metres above sea level.

The Waimate District is bordered by the braided Waitaki River in the south, the Pareora River in the north and the Hakataramea Valley to the west.

It has lush paddocks and rolling hills and is a gateway from Christchurch to Queenstown.

Population

According to the 2013 Census, the population of Waimate District is 7,536. The median age is 46 years (for New Zealand the median age is 38 years).

	Waimate	New Zealand
Male	3,798	2,064,015
Female	3,738	2,178,033
Total	7,536	4,242,051

22.3 percent of people in Waimate District are aged 65 years and over, compared with 14.3 percent of the total New Zealand population.

17.9 percent of people are aged under 15 years in Waimate District, compared with 20.4 percent for New Zealand.

Ethnic groups

	Waimate	New Zealand
European	92.5	74.0
Maori	6.3	14.9
Pacific peoples	0.6	7.4
Asian	2.8	11.8
Middle Eastern, Latin American, African	0.5	1.2
New Zealander	1.9	1.6
Total other ethnicity	1.9	1.7

Weather

Waimate District enjoys a moderate climate in the summer and in the winter many mornings start with a frost resulting in clear, sunny days. The average rainfall is 600mm and average sunshine hours of 1,717 per year. Snow-capped hills surround the Waimate district in winter.

Employment and business

The major industries include farming and forestry. Accordingly to the 2013 Census there were 2,360 paid employees, an increase of 9.8 percent since the 2006 Census.

Industry	Employee Count	Percent of total employee count	Employee count	Percent of total employee count
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	1,140	48.3	111,520	5.7
Education and training	180	7.6	167,240	8.6
Construction	170	7.2	124,870	6.4
Retail trade	150	6.4	195,870	10.1
Manufacturing	140	5.9	211,710	10.9

Promoting the district

The district is promoted for its heritage, and the cultural and social aspects of a rural lifestyle. People move to Waimate for the serenity and peacefulness the area offers, and new residents have the opportunity to join a number of clubs and organisations which cater for almost every aspect of social and community life.

Attractively priced homes are also a major drawcard for new residents to the area.

Tourism is an increasing contributor to Waimate's economy with many free independent travellers visiting the area and several major events organised annually to attract people into the district.