// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Rakautara say to its friend? "You tarra for now.
Rakautara | |
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Locality | |
 Interactive map of Rakautara | |
| Coordinates: 42°15′54″S 173°48′0″E / 42.26500°S 173.80000°E |
Rakautara is a small settlement 22 kilometres (14 mi) north of Kaikōura, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island.[1][2]
History
[edit]| External image | |
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| Aniseed Village in the 1930s | |
 https://virtualexhibit.marlboroughmuseum.org.nz/mhs/vewebsite21/exhibit1/e10041b.html |
From 1936 to 1945,[3]: 5 during the construction of the Main North Line railway from Wharanui to Kaikōura,[4] Rakautara had a camp for railway workers. It was located about a kilometre south of the Rakautara Stream bridge and was called Aniseed Village or Terrace Camp. It had huts, entertainment venues and a school. Land surrounding the stream was also used for the camp, with the north side of the stream, near the coast, having a dental practice, a YMCA hall and a few workshops.[3]: 5
Rakautara railway station opened on 13 March 1944 and closed on 16 October 1992.[5]
The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake caused two large landslides on either side of Rakautara, which blocked off the township by road.[6] Access to and from Rakautara required walking through railway tunnels and over land slides.[7] Road access was restored in March 2017.[6] The earthquake caused slope instability around Rakautara, increasing the risk of rockfall, which resulted in a few properties being deemed unsafe to occupy. As a response, rockfall protection structures were placed near five properties in 2020.[3]: 1
Geography
[edit]A river runs through Rakautara. There is a waterfall about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away from State Highway 1.[8]
There is a scenic reserve in Rakautara, named Rakautara Scenic Reserve.[9]
Demographics
[edit]As of 2016 there are about 10 houses in Rakautara.[10]
Rakautara locality covers 72.91 km2 (28.15 sq mi)[11] It had a population of 45 people in the 2023 census.[12] Rakautara is part of a larger area including Hāpuku and Mangamaunu and of the still larger Kaikōura Ranges statistical area.[13]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Place name detail: Rakautara". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand..
- ↑ "The little town of Rakautara left off Ben Foster's Kaikōura earthquake sculpture". Stuff. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Rakautara Rockfall Protection Structures at 2021, 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029 State Highway 1, Half Moon Bay Kaikōura: Report on Archaeological Monitoring" (PDF). heritage.nzdl.org. August 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ "The little town of Rakautara left off Ben Foster's Kaikōura earthquake sculpture". Stuff. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ↑ Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. p. 101.
- 1 2 "Residents of Rakautara stranded no more". Kaikoura Star. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "Tiny settlement of Rakautara marooned after quake". RNZ. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "Rapid spotlight survey for migratory fish in the Rakautara catchment, Kaikōura coast" (PDF). June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ "Place name detail: Rakautara Scenic Reserve". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand.
- ↑ "Cut off from the world: A journey down Kaikoura's ruined highway". RNZ. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Meshblock 2025 - 2314600. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". 2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock) - 2314600. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Meshblock - 2025 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.