52-668: The Pukaki River flows through the Mackenzie Basin , Canterbury , in New Zealand's South Island . Originally, the river flowed southwest for 15 kilometres (9 mi) from the southern end of Lake Pukaki before joining with the Tekapo River and flowing into the northern end of Lake Benmore . However, all water from Lake Pukaki is now diverted into a canal which is fed through three hydroelectric stations before being returned directly into Lake Benmore, as part of
104-542: A 33-metre pool for lane swimming with a slide, a smaller children's pool and a toddler's pool. The Twizel Community Pools open in late November each year. Management of the pool was awarded to Belgravia Leisure after a report written in September 2020 for the Mackenzie District Council found health and safety issues with the way that the council was running the pool. Plans exist in 2021 to heat
156-697: A population of 1,455 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 303 people (26.3%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 414 people (39.8%) since the 2006 census . There were 609 households, comprising 765 males and 687 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 46.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 213 people (14.6%) aged under 15 years, 243 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 681 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 318 (21.9%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 87.6% European/ Pākehā , 9.1% Māori , 0.8% Pasifika , 8.0% Asian , and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
208-783: A river in Canterbury, New Zealand is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Mackenzie Basin The Mackenzie Basin ( Māori : Te Manahuna ), popularly and traditionally known as the Mackenzie Country , is an elliptical intermontane basin located in the Mackenzie and Waitaki Districts , near the centre of the South Island of New Zealand . It is the largest such basin in New Zealand. Historically famous mainly for sheep farming ,
260-447: A sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 31.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 156 people (13.2%) aged under 15 years, 357 (30.2%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (48.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (8.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 71.6% European/ Pākehā , 4.3% Māori , 2.0% Pasifika , 20.1% Asian , and 7.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
312-521: A threat to the black stilt (or kakī), an endangered river wading bird. A captive breeding programme was set up and it is administered by the Department of Conservation . The Mackenzie Basin is one of the areas where wilding conifers proliferate. These weed trees cover large areas sometimes to a very high density and therefore excluding native vegetation and reducing the amount of available pasture. Some areas have control measures in place to prevent
364-640: Is a 24 kilometre walk around the outskirts of Twizel. Other close by walking tracks include the 15 minute long Ben Ohau Wetland track and the four hour long Darts Bush Stream track. It is also possible to climb Ben Ohau. The start of the track in 23 kilometres outside of Twizel via the Glen Lyon road. Twizel is also on the route of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail . Stage 2 of the Alps 2 Ocean runs from Lake Tekapo to Twizel. This 54 kilometre section takes riders past
416-665: Is frequently utilised as the principal and second-unit location for television commercials, documentaries, and motion pictures, including much of Peter Jackson 's epic The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film trilogy . Gliding is another common activity within the Mackenzie Basin, and the area was host to a Gliding World Cup event in 1995, as well as being the home of several gliding clubs, airfields, and numerous private glider pilots, of both amateur and professional status. Due to its clean, dry and dark sky,
468-635: Is of an easy skill level, with little traffic. Points along the stage include the Pukaki and Ohau canals, views of Ben Ohau, Maori Swamp, the Ohau Weir and salmon fishing spots in the canals. Other mountain biking trails around Twizel include the Dusky Trail. This is a 23 kilometre walking and biking track that is considered non technical (grade 2). When biking, it is best ridden in a clockwise direction starting at Fraser Stream. The Dusky Trail traverses
520-661: Is open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. The Twizel events centre was built in 2001. It is located at the Market Place in the centre of town. The events centre includes a sports hall, community room plus kitchen and a theatre hall. It never received a Code Compliance Certificate. It was at risk of being closed down in 2021 with the discovery of asbestos and other safety concerns such as broken ventilation systems, improperly installed fire dampers, concerns with theatre seating, lack of seismic restraints, non-compliant fire safety equipment, non-functioning emergency lighting, and
572-712: Is used for sailing and water skiing . Several rowing events are held on the lake, including the Maadi Cup and the New Zealand Rowing Championships . The Twizel Rowing Club is based at Lake Ruataniwha, with club members competing in all age groups. The nearby Ōhau Skifield and the Round Hill Ski Area attract winter tourists. The Twizel Snow Club supports local children to build on skills and knowledge and train for skiing and snowboarding competitions. The Twizel River Trail
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#1732798413467624-909: The Tekapo Rivers. Lakes Ōhau , Pukaki , Alexandrina and Tekapo lie within the Mackenzie Basin, as do the artificial hydroelectric lakes of Ruataniwha , Benmore and Aviemore . Sparsely populated, and with only four settlements ( Lake Tekapo , population <500; Mount Cook Village , population <150; Twizel , population <1,000; and Omarama , population <400), the Mackenzie Country comprises an area of huge glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains, particularly favoured by tourists and skiers. The Ōhau skifield near Omarama, and Roundhill and Mount Dobson Ski Areas at Lake Tekapo, are small commercial skifields popular amongst many living in Canterbury and Otago. The Mackenzie Country
676-640: The Waitaki Hydroelectric scheme . Occasionally, water may be spilled down the riverbed when Lake Pukaki reaches its maximum height, or if a canal or power station requires servicing. In 2010, Meridian Energy applied for resource consents to build a 35 MW power station at Pukaki's gate 18. Consent was granted for the project in July 2011. Consent for the project expires in 2021. 44°19′S 170°14′E / 44.317°S 170.233°E / -44.317; 170.233 This article about
728-520: The whole town and develop it for tourism . One such investor, had plans to turn it into a "Las Vegas style casino town". By 1982, the population had fallen to around 3,500 people. During 1983, the Ministry of Works and Development started to sell houses and garages. Several hundred were sold and transported away by new owners. However, in 1983, as the hydroelectric project was winding up and finally ended in 1986. Residents successfully fought to save
780-491: The 1,900 employees of the Upper Waitaki hydroelectricity scheme. The town was laid out in a 'Scandinavian' fashion, featuring looping roads and pedestrian ways, making it usually far more direct to walk than use a car. Shops, school, and recreational parkland formed a hub in the centre of the town, around which the residential area were built. A previous version of this layout had been tried at Otematata . Accommodation
832-403: The 2023 census, Mackenzie Lakes had a smaller boundary, covering 5,134.25 km (1,982.35 sq mi). Using that boundary, Mackenzie Lakes had a population of 1,182 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 300 people (34.0%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 399 people (51.0%) since the 2006 census . There were 375 households, comprising 585 males and 597 females, giving
884-693: The Department of Conservation for the potential ecological effects, and since it may clash with a proposed Mackenzie Basin Drylands Park. 44°03′36″S 170°27′00″E / 44.06000°S 170.45000°E / -44.06000; 170.45000 Twizel Twizel ( / ˈ t w aɪ z əl / ) is the largest town in the Mackenzie District , in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. The town
936-554: The Mackenzie Basin serves as an important area for New Zealand-based astronomy , with a number of related facilities located there, including the nation's premier astronomical observatory, the University of Canterbury 's Mount John University Observatory , and several amateur observatories. Astronomy-related tourism is an increasing contributor to the area's economy, with more astro-tourism ventures in development near Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook village (planetarium) and Omarama. Each June
988-508: The Ruataniwha Conservation Park. It also crosses Rhoboro, Pukaki Downs, and Ben Ohau stations on public easements. The views have been described as "massive" and showcasing the "big sky". Twizel is home to the start of the annual Twizel to Timaru Cycle Classic. The 151 kilometre race was won in 2021 by Josh Rivett. The 2020 edition was won by Myles Gibson with Sharlotte Lucas coming second. The area has one of
1040-633: The Tekapo A power station and along the Tekapo Canal before skirting around the Lake Pukaki shoreline and across the Pukaki Flats to Twizel. Stage 3 of the Alps 2 Ocean runs from Twizel to Lake Ōhau Lodge. This 38 kilometre section takes riders along the canal roads to the edge of Lake Ōhau. It then turns into an off-road trail which runs along the lake up to Lake Ōhau Lodge. This section
1092-655: The annual mid winter star party is held at new moon on the Omarama airfield. In June 2012, an area of 430,000 hectares (1,100,000 acres) including Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin was declared the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve by the International Dark-Sky Association . At the time of the designation in 2012, the reserve was the largest in the world, and
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#17327984134671144-480: The area was soon divided up amongst new sheep pasture stations in 1857. The basin extends approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) north to south, and 40 kilometres (25 mi) east to west. The Southern Alps constitute its western edge. The Mackenzie Basin is located entirely within South Canterbury . Using State Highway 8 , it can be accessed via Burkes Pass (elevation 709m / 2,326 ft) from
1196-493: The asbestos cement water pipes with polyethylene pipes as the old pipes had reached the end of their useful life. Twizel is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area, and covers 15.54 km (6.00 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,890 as of June 2024, with a population density of 122 people per km (315/sq mi). Before the 2023 census, Twizel had a larger boundary, covering 21.07 km (8.14 sq mi). Using that boundary, Twizel had
1248-509: The auspices of the Mackenzie District Council. With the construction phase completed of the Upper Waitaki hydroelectricity scheme, the makeup of the town in the late 1980s was significantly different. The population (of 1179 people in 1986, declining to 1017 people in 1991) was now made of those working on the operations side of the hydroelectric scheme, working in the service sector, retired and those taking advantage of
1300-480: The cheap housing. Some houses became holiday homes for people living out of town. Tourism developed slowly in the 1990s with a number of hotels and motels being built. Twizel was the base for some of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand operations workforce. In 1999, Meridian Energy , which had inherited the local assets, moved its operations base from Twizel to Christchurch. In 2009,
1352-501: The community were consulted in a workshop to identify issues and gaps in services that residents felt existed. Issues identified included the viability of emergency services, accessibility of health services, residential care for the elderly, access to dental care and drug and alcohol services. In 2015, the new $ 1.8 million Twizel Medical Centre was completed. This included a helipad in order to transport sick patients to hospital via helicopter. Meridian Energy provided $ 150,000 funding for
1404-440: The disproportionally high number of threatened plant species in the Mackenzie Basin. The plan attracted opposition at submission hearings. There is currently a high demand for water to irrigate the Mackenzie Basin, with 126 resource consents from 36 applicants before Environment Canterbury as of mid-2009. The water would be used to irrigate an area of 27,125 hectares (67,030 acres), but the schemes are opposed by many locals and
1456-527: The edge of the road, a single expanse of seal was contoured in a very flat 'W' shape: the seal was highest at the outer edge (footpath) and in the middle (centreline), with a lower area serving as a channel and delineation between the roadway and footpath. Likewise, most of the town's telephone local loop is strung above ground to save the task of burying and then removing the lines. Most houses were prefabricated, and intended to be portable. Some were brought from Otematata , and some were later moved to Clyde for
1508-459: The formation of Lake Ruataniwha , producing 848 MW of electricity. At the height of the project in the 1970s, population peaked of around 6,000. At the time when the construction of the Upper Waitaki hydroelectricity scheme peaked, roughly in 1976, there were 800 cabins for single people and 1,224 family homes in Twizel. These mostly belonged to the Ministry of Works and Development to house
1560-497: The helipad. A building boom occurred in 2017 with five new subdivisions all sold and a busy construction industry. Financial support to build an aviary near Twizel in order to support the conservation of the black stilt (kakī) was provided in 2017 by the Sangreal Foundation. The captive breeding programme in Twizel (and Christchurch) was a success in 2021 with 150 juvenile black stilt (kakī) being released into
1612-535: The hydroelectric canals from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki and those from Lake Ōhau on to Lake Benmore. Within the canals, salmon farms provide plenty of food for wild salmon and trout. Many large fish have been caught with trout weighing in excess of 4.5 kilograms common. A trout caught in the Ōhau canal in October 2020 weighing 20.1 kg was a world record catch. Twizel also hosts an annual Twizel Salmon & Wine Festival each February. Lake Ruataniwha
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1664-403: The next hydroelectricity project. Government ministers argued that the town was intended to be temporary and eventually demolished. The government ministers saw Twizel as a financial liability. In October 1981, 100 houses had been reserved with the intention to transport them to Aramoana in expectation that the proposed aluminium smelter would be built. Several overseas investors offered to buy
1716-712: The north and the Lindis Pass (elevation 965m / 3,166 ft) from the south, or via State Highway 83 through the Waitaki Valley from the east. Aside from these passes, the terrain is generally highest at the northern end and gradually descends in a southward direction. The basin is drained by the Waitaki River . Prominent rivers crossing the Mackenzie Basin include the Ahuriri , the Hakataramea and
1768-570: The only reserve of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. The statistical area of Mackenzie Lakes corresponds to the portion of the Mackenzie Basin within the Mackenzie District. It includes Mt Cook Village and Lake Tekapo, but not Twizel. Mackenzie Lakes covers 5,139.71 km (1,984.45 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,440 as of June 2024, with a population density of 0.28 people per km . Before
1820-443: The pools as community feedback was almost unanimous that the pools were too cold. The Ben Ohau golf club is a nine-hole golf course in Twizel. The retail sector in Twizel is concentrated around the pedestrianised Market Place. There are two Four Square supermarkets in Twizel. Twizel is also reputed to have New Zealand's smallest bookstore. The Twizel Community Library is located on Mount Cook Street, just off Market Place. It
1872-477: The population growth was underestimated. In January 2021, there were concerns that the display of earth moving vehicles, that was used in the Waitaki hydroelectric power projects, at the entrance to the town were unsafe. A report recommended that the vehicles were either fenced off or brought up to the standards that playgrounds are expected to be at. In May 2021, work began on a $ 6.5 million project to replace
1924-406: The sparsely populated area is now also a popular tourism destination. The basin was named in the 1850s by and after James Mckenzie , a shepherd and would-be farmer of Scottish origin. Mckenzie was captured for allegedly stealing sheep; he herded his flocks in what was then an area almost totally empty of any human habitation, though Māori previously lived there intermittently. After his capture,
1976-432: The summer months and during rowing events. Twizel's population is expected to grow by 2.6% each year between 2020 and 2050. with the population expected to grow to 3395 people in the year 2050. The Mackenzie District Council presented three options for how the town could evolve with the growth. in October 2020. Local residents provided negative feedback to the plans with complaints that they were too similar and said that
2028-549: The town itself. The town was handed over to the Mackenzie County Council. The government offered 325 houses, 100 further sections, community facilities and a cash grant to the council. The Mackenzie County Council then offered these for sale. In 1984, the Mackenzie County Council eventually took over 540 houses and 14 shops as well as the 100 sections and community facilities. With the local government reorganisation that occurred in 1989 , Twizel came under
2080-521: The town. Twizel is served by InterCity coaches with regular service to Christchurch and Queenstown . The Cook Connection bus service also provides connections to Mount Cook village from Twizel. Twizel is served by the nearby Pukaki Airport . Twizel is part of the Waitaki electorate with the current member of parliament being Miles Anderson of the National Party . Previously, Twizel
2132-413: The trees from spreading. Rabbits are a common invasive species in the area affect both agricultural production and biodiversity . Rabbit numbers dropped after the introduction of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RCD) but are now increasing. The Department of Conservation has plans to drop sodium fluoroacetate (1080) laced poison bait to control the rabbit numbers. This is seen as necessary due to
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2184-458: The wild. The 2021 breeding season was also deemed a success with eighteen black stilt chicks hatching over the Christmas period. By early 2019, tourism played an important part in the economy of Twizel. By this stage, tourists had spent one million overnight stays in the town, unemployment was sitting at less than 1% and employers could not recruit for jobs. Twizel would get very busy during
2236-413: The world recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association . Twizel has an oceanic climate. It is typically mild and dry over the summer, with cold and frosty winters. Snow is not uncommon in Twizel and can fall in several months of the year. Twizel is often the coldest town in New Zealand during winter. Twizel sits immediately to the west of State Highway 8 which is the main highway serving
2288-570: The world's cleanest, driest, and darkest skies, and has long drawn astronomers to Twizel and the surrounding area , with several existing astro-tourism ventures, such as at Lake Tekapo and Omarama , catering to their needs during the development of two additional observatories in Twizel and at Mount Cook Village . Since 2012, Twizel has been a part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark-Sky Reserve, one of sixteen (as of 2020 ) such reserves in
2340-481: Was $ 31,400, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 171 people (13.8%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 690 (55.6%) people were employed full-time, 222 (17.9%) were part-time, and 9 (0.7%) were unemployed. Twizel is now a service town for the agricultural sector and tourist town for visitors. There are many options around Twizel for fishing. These include many mountain streams, Lakes Ruataniwha , Ōhau , and
2392-644: Was $ 36,500, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 141 people (13.7%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 780 (76.0%) people were employed full-time, 117 (11.4%) were part-time, and 3 (0.3%) were unemployed. The original vegetation cover prior to human settlement has been completely transformed in the basin and indeed most of the surrounding Canterbury-Otago tussock grasslands ecoregion, initially due to fires lit by Māori and European settlers, and in more recent times by farming activity and by pests. The extensive network of canals for hydroelectric schemes posed
2444-447: Was 22.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.2% had no religion, 34.2% were Christian , 0.6% had Māori religious beliefs , 1.4% were Hindu , 1.0% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 222 (17.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 240 (19.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
2496-429: Was 43.4, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.6% had no religion, 31.0% were Christian , 1.8% were Hindu , 1.0% were Muslim , 2.8% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 279 (27.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 81 (7.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
2548-608: Was built in 1968 by the Ministry of Works and Development as a greenfields project to house workers constructing the Upper Waitaki hydroelectricity scheme. The name comes from the nearby Twizel River , in turn named for Twizel Bridge in Northumberland by John Turnbull Thomson , Chief Surveyor of Otago in the mid-19th century. The Waitaki hydro scheme consisted of 50 kilometres (31 mi) of canals, two dams, and four powerhouses (Tekapo B, Ōhau A , B and C ), and
2600-646: Was founded in 1968 to house construction workers on the Upper Waitaki Hydroelectric Scheme. Today, Twizel is a service and tourist town for visitors to the area. It has a resident population of 1,890 (June 2024); during the summer, holidaymakers nearly triple the town's population. Nearby Lake Ruataniwha supports rowing, sailing and water skiing. Twizel is 37 km (29 minutes drive) east of Lake Ōhau village , 30 km (20 minutes drive) north of Omarama and 60 km (42 minutes drive) south of Lake Tekapo . The present town
2652-440: Was highly segregated: in addition to single men's quarters in the middle of town, there was a series of different houses available, with the smallest for workers, staff houses for teachers and professionals, and the largest for engineers and other high-status residents. As the intention was for the town to revert to farmland, there were many temporary features. For example, instead of putting in kerbing, channels, and footpaths at
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#17327984134672704-599: Was in the Aoraki electorate. Local government is the responsibility of the Mackenzie District Council . Twizel also has representation through the Twizel Community Board , which consists of four elected members and an appointed Mackenzie District council member. The Twizel Community Pool is located on Market Place next to the Twizel Events Centre. The outdoor complex contains three pools,
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