Darfield, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Darfield is a town
in the Selwyn District
of the South Island
of New Zealand
. It is located 35 kilometres west from the outskirts of Christchurch
, New Zealand on State Highway 73
(The great Alpine highway) and the town is on the Midland railway line
, route of the famous TranzAlpine
train service. Its population (2001 census) is 1,362.
Darfield is the main town between Christchurch and the West Coast, New Zealand
. It is often called "The township under the Nor'west arch
", in reference to a characteristic weather phenomenon, which often creates an arch of cloud in an otherwise clear sky to the west of the township. This is caused by the condensation of water particles channelled upwards over the Southern Alps
. Darfield has a high school which covers a large area and several shops.
Darfield lies in the Malvern district's arable and pastoral farming area. It is a gateway to the scenic Waimakariri
and Rakaia River
s and the Southern Alps, and is also a popular lift-off place for hot air ballooning
.
Fonterra
, a multi-national dairy co-operative and the largest company in New Zealand, is planning to build a milk powder factory near the town. Resource consent
hearings for factory the will be held in October.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake
occurred near Darfield at 4:35 am on 4 September 2010, causing widespread damage to both the town and to surrounding areas including the city of Christchurch
.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the Selwyn District
Selwyn District
The Selwyn District is a predominantly rural area in central Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Selwyn River, which is in turn named after Bishop George Selwyn, the first Anglican bishop of New Zealand who, in 1843 and 1844, travelled the length of...
of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is located 35 kilometres west from the outskirts of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand on State Highway 73
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
(The great Alpine highway) and the town is on the Midland railway line
Midland Line, New Zealand
The Midland line is a 212 km section of railway between Rolleston and Greymouth in the South Island of New Zealand. The line features five major bridges, five viaducts and 17 tunnels, the longest of which is the Otira tunnel.-Freight services:...
, route of the famous TranzAlpine
TranzAlpine
The TranzAlpine Express is a passenger train operated by Tranz Scenic in the South Island of New Zealand. This trip is often regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes . The journey is one-way, taking about four and a half hours...
train service. Its population (2001 census) is 1,362.
Darfield is the main town between Christchurch and the West Coast, New Zealand
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
. It is often called "The township under the Nor'west arch
Nor'west arch
The Nor'west arch is a weather pattern peculiar to the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. For this reason, it is also often referred to as the Canterbury arch. It is shown in an apparent arch of high white cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky over the Southern Alps, and is accompanied by a...
", in reference to a characteristic weather phenomenon, which often creates an arch of cloud in an otherwise clear sky to the west of the township. This is caused by the condensation of water particles channelled upwards over the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
. Darfield has a high school which covers a large area and several shops.
Darfield lies in the Malvern district's arable and pastoral farming area. It is a gateway to the scenic Waimakariri
Waimakariri River
The Waimakariri River is the largest of the North Canterbury rivers, in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows for 151 kilometres in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean....
and Rakaia River
Rakaia River
The Rakaia River is in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island. The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand...
s and the Southern Alps, and is also a popular lift-off place for hot air ballooning
Hot air ballooning
Hot air ballooning is the activity of flying hot air balloons. Attractive aspects of ballooning include the exceptional quiet , the lack of a feeling of movement, and the bird's-eye view...
.
Fonterra
Fonterra
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited is a New Zealand multinational dairy co-operative owned by almost 10,500 New Zealand farmers. The company is responsible for approximately 30% of the world's dairy exports and with revenue exceeding NZ$19.87 billion, is New Zealand's largest company.- History :In...
, a multi-national dairy co-operative and the largest company in New Zealand, is planning to build a milk powder factory near the town. Resource consent
Resource consent
A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act . Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or be permitted activities authorised by rules in plans...
hearings for factory the will be held in October.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake
2010 Canterbury earthquake
The 2010 Canterbury earthquake was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am on local time ....
occurred near Darfield at 4:35 am on 4 September 2010, causing widespread damage to both the town and to surrounding areas including the city of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
Notable people from Darfield
- John WrightJohn Wright (cricketer)John Geoffrey Wright is a former international cricketer representing - and captaining - New Zealand, and, following his retirement in 1993, coaching the Indian national cricket team from 2000 to 2005. He made his international debut in 1978 against England...
(5 July 1954), New Zealand cricketer and former coach of the Indian national cricket team. - Mary ClintonMary ClintonMary Frances Clinton is a former female field hockey player from New Zealand, who was a member of the national team that finished sixth at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California...
(8 May 1960), New Zealand field hockey player - James Te-HunaJames Te-HunaJames Te-Huna is a New Zealand mixed martial artist who is currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Early career and background:Te-Huna is of Maori descent and became the first New Zealander to enter the UFC....
(29 September 1981) - First New Zealander to enter the UFC, 2010 (Ultimate Fighting Championships)