Hurunui District Council

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The Hurunui is one of the few places in New Zealand’s South Island that in less than 2 hours travelling time, you have driven from the Lewis Pass (the northern most point of the Southern Alps) with its fresh mountain air, spectacular scenery and lush beech forests, to be sitting by the coast watching the waves from the Pacific Ocean crash onto the Beach. The Rivers, Forest Parks and Mountain Lakes of the Hurunui offers you every opportunity to satisfy your thirst for life.

The district is serviced by: – 11 primary schools – Amberley, Broomfield, Geta Valley, Hanmer Springs, Leithfield, Omihi, Parnassus, Rotherham, Waikari, Waipara, Waiau. – 3 secondary schools – Amuri Area School, Cheviot Area School, Hurunui College. – Rangiora High School, though not in the district, provides secondary education for pupils in the south of the district.

The Hurunui is continuing to experience growth and diversification in terms of industry. Historically the district was primarily agriculture based, and agriculture continues to be the single largest contributor to the Hurunui economy. However recent times have seen an expansion in both viticulture and tourism. The introduction of the ‘big player’, Montana Wines into the local wine industry has seen plantings in the area double. The growth of the district icon, Hanmer Springs as a tourist destination and the establishment of associated infrastructure, is unprecedented in the tourism sector New Zealand wide.

The Hurunui district has a highly diversified economy based around agriculture, viticulture and tourism. Both domestic and international tourism have increased significantly over the past decade in recognition of the wide array of recreational opportunities within Hurunui from the coast to the mountains. The Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve, Mt Lyford Ski field and Waipara wine producing area are recognised as anchor destinations that have been a catalyst for significant business investment in the District. New Zealand Statistics has estimated the Hurunui population at 2021 to be 12,200 on a high growth projection. However because of a large absentee population, owning lifestyle and holiday homes, the Council is planning for growth demands associated with a population of approximately 17,000. The majority of this growth is expected to occur in the Amberley Ward and Hanmer Springs township.

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