Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a term coined by the Ecotourism nearly 2200 inhabitants counting village on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. He is also the administrative seat of the Kaikoura District.

The name Kaikoura means in the language of Māori kai = food / meal = Cancer Koura / Crayfish.

Geography

Kaikoura lies along an elongated north- south running bay right on the Pacific Ocean on the former alluvial deposits in the Kowhai River. With its surrounding farmlands of the place of running to the coast of Kaikoura Ranges in the north, west and south is limited. A small part of the urban area extends up to the Kaikoura Peninsula, a small upstream the alluvial peninsula, the range regarded as the last foothills of Kaikoura. Off the coast of the continental shelf falls just 1.6 miles from steep and reached in the Kaikoura Canyon a depth of up to 1600 m and is thus by its depth and low flow conditions perfect conditions for marine life just offshore.

The town, 132 km south-east of Blenheim and 183 km north of Christchurch located, is on the running along the locus State Highway 1 (SH 1) accessible and is also connected with its own railway station on the north- south running railway line Main North Line, on the runs the TranzCoastal between Picton and Christchurch.

History

Before the 19th century came the first European settlers, Kaikoura was already over 600 years of Maori settlement area. As a final settled the Ngai Tahu, a Iwi ( tribe ) of the Maori, which, coming in the 17th century from the North Island of New Zealand, settled because of the fish wealth of the sea on the coast of Kaikoura.

The arrival of the first Europeans was documented in 1842 with the captain and whaler Robert Fyfe, who founded a whaling station in the Bay of Kaikoura. His house, originally built in 1845 for his cooper ( barrel maker) and after his death in 1857 by his cousin George Fyffe on (with two f) extended exists today and is one of the oldest surviving houses in New Zealand Represents the house is now located ( of 2011) under monument protection.

After a short time successful whaling one rose from 1850 in addition to whaling in sheep and goats in the livestock economy. Whaling was continued until 1964, even if only sporadically. With the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, the whaling in New Zealand was eventually banned and the animals protected by law.

Kaikoura, half farm economically dominated until the 1960s semi fishing village, had by the elimination of whaling and the recession of the 1980s economic problems. By focusing on ecotourism as of the year 1989, there was economically uphill again.

Today ( to 2010)

Kaikoura today, almost entirely devoted to ecotourism boasts of being the first local authority to be the world that has received the Green Globe 21 ( GG21 ) award for sustainable management of the World Travel and Tourism Council ( WTTC ). This, together with the progress in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions one tries its importance in nature, species and climate change in the region, in New Zealand and also to underline addition.

Besides fishing (lobster ) and agriculture, tourism is now the main source of income of the village dar. 22.1% of visiting tourists annually nowadays come from overseas.

Since 1987, the tourists come mainly to observe whales, dolphins, seals, elephant seals and leopard seals and at the same time be able to admire the diversity of species of seabirds on the coast and at sea. Whale watching and swimming with the dolphins is one of the most popular tourist attractions.

The Kaikoura region is still in the economic growth. The number of companies increased since 1997, constantly and in 2005 was listed at just under 500. Provided further economic growth, forecasts currently assume that Kaikoura 'll eg increase by 2020 to a further 900 houses.