Fairlie, New Zealand

Fairlie is a Mackenzie District service town located in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. As of the 2013 census, the population was 717.[1]

Fairlie
town
A statue of James Mckenzie and his dog, in the centre of the town
Fairlie
Coordinates: 44°06′S 170°50′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authorityMackenzie District
Population
 (2013)[1]
 • Total717
Time zoneUTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode
7925
Area code(s)03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu
Websitehttp://www.mackenzie.govt.nz/

From 1884 to 1968, the town was served by the Fairlie Branch railway,[2][3] though until 1934, this branch line actually terminated a kilometre beyond Fairlie in Eversley.

Fairlie is commonly known as the gateway to the Mackenzie Basin.[4] The town was initially called Fairlie's Creek, a name purportedly chosen by David Hamilton, the brother-in-law of James Lister (or Lizter), who had built a boarding house near the creek. The name Hamilton had been suggested, but was rejected due to similarity to Hamilton, New Zealand. David Hamilton suggested the town be named Fairlie after Fairlie, Scotland, which he had visited as part of his honeymoon.[5]

Fairlie hosts the annual Mackenzie District Agricultural and Pastoral show every Easter Monday. The 105th annual show was in 2006.

Being on the tourist highway between Christchurch and Queenstown, tourism is fast becoming a major industry within the town.

Education

Fairlie has three schools.

  • Fairlie School is a state contributing primary (Year 1 to 6) school.[6] It has 118 students as of March 2020.[7]
  • Mackenzie College is a state Year 7 to 13 secondary school.[8] It has 183 students as of March 2020.[7]
  • Saint Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (Year 1 to 8) school.[9] It has 26 students as of March 2020.[7]

References
  1. "QuickStats About Fairlie". 2006 Census. Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  2. "Opening of the Railway to Fairlie Creek", Timaru Herald (31 January 1884): 3.
  3. "Branch line closures a sign of the times but infuriating for locals". Kiwirail. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  4. "Fairlie". Discover New Zealand: A Wises Guide (9th ed.). 1994. p. 376.
  5. "Fairlie". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  6. Education Counts: Fairlie School
  7. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. Education Counts: Mackenzie College
  9. Education Counts: Saint Joseph's School

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