Kaikōura's 'Day In The Sun' Is Coming - Council Boss

Monday, 18 August 2025, 1:12 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Kaikōura is poised to have ‘‘its day in the sun’’ after some challenging years, says council chief executive Will Doughty. As he looks ahead to October’s local elections, Mr Doughty said the tourism town has potential for growth, despite the economic uncertainty. 

‘‘Despite the challenges posed by the November 2016 earthquake and then Covid-19, it is very exciting to see the confidence in the potential of our district moving forward with tourism numbers returning to and passing 2019 numbers.’’ 

Several major projects are about to kick off the next year or two, including the Vicarage Views housing sub-division and the Kaikōura light industrial business park. Last year the Kaikōura district gained international dark sky sanctuary status, which has opened up a number of astro-tourism ventures to boost the wider tourism sector and provide more winter and land-based attractions. 

Also in the pipeline is a private plan change for the Ocean Ridge sub-division and the potential for a hot pools, spa and wellness centre. A major focus over the last six years has been upgrading the district’s roads and footpaths, after years of neglect. Government reform is creating some uncertainty, including the Resource Management Act shake-up and the Local Water Done Well legislation. 

Kaikōura is forming a joint water services council controlled organisation with the Hurunui District Council, with the two councils signing off their water services delivery plan last week to submit to the Department of Internal Affairs. 

‘‘We know there are a number of uncertainties ahead of us in terms of various central Government reforms and initiatives that are under way,’’ Mr Doughty said. ‘‘This makes planning for the next 10 years a challenge, but we based our [2024/34] Long Term Plan on what we know now, rather than anticipating or guessing how things may develop.’’ 

The Kaikōura district has a population of 4215, at the last population estimate, and covers 2046 square kilometres from the Haumuri bluffs in the south to Kekerengu valley in the north. The Inland Kaikōura Ranges, climbing to 2885 metres, provides the inland boundary, while off the coast is the Kaikōura Canyon, at around 1300 metres deep, which provides habitat for whales, dolphins, seals, seabirds and more than 2000 species of marine life. 

Diversification of the local economy and creating employment are essential for the district’s future, Mr Doughty said. Tourism provides 40 percent of GDP in the district, with many local residents employed in the sector, which tends to be low paid and is reliant on migrant workers. 

‘‘We have always had a low unemployment rate, but there are extremely limited opportunities for specialised or highly skilled workers,’’ Mr Doughty said. ‘‘Despite the efforts of the Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs programme, we lose our youth as they leave for advanced education and future career prospects.’’ 

Kaikōura also has an ageing population, with projections indicating one-third of residents will be over 65 within the next decade. ‘‘We need to care for our elderly, but acknowledge this is complicated given our small scale and the cost of high-end elderly care,’’ Mr Doughty said. 

The Kaikōura District Council has three candidates for mayor and 16 nominations for seven council positions, which are elected at large. 

- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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