Kakanui
Encyclopedia
The small town of Kakanui lies on the coast of Otago
, in New Zealand
, fourteen kilometres to the south of Oamaru
. The Kakanui River
and its estuary divide the township in two. The part of the settlement south of the river, also known as Kakanui South, formerly "Campbells Bay", was developed as a collection of crib
s (holiday homes). A recent increase in the development of subdivisions
have increased the density of dwellings within South Kakanui.
The Kakanui River reaches the sea near the town, and the low range known as the Kakanui Mountains stretch inland from south of Oamaru towards the Maniototo
. Kai Tahu used to temporarily occupy Kakanui as they travelled north and south, as evidenced by the midden
on the north side of the estuary.
The area around Kakanui has a reputation for its limestone
formations, and produces many fossil
s. Quarrying formerly took place. The rich and fertile soil of the area around the river has physical properties which make it perfect for use in sports grounds, especially cricket
pitches. Many of New Zealands's top cricket venues use Kakanui soil on their wicket
blocks.
Kakanui's main beach, south of the main headland, is known as Campbell's Bay. It provides the first surfable
break and the first safe swimming beach (apart from Timaru's
Caroline Bay) south of Banks Peninsula
. The beach has a length of approximately two kilometres, and the southern end, known as All Day Bay, offers more shelter than the northern end, but with less surf. The shingle beach north of the river mouth stretching toward Oamaru is not swimmable. The beaches in the area feature orange sand.
s, primarily used for growing tomato
es, but also producing cucumber
s and capsicum
s (bell peppers). Land surrounding the settlement (especially to the north towards the settlement of Totara) also features market garden
s (often operated by Chinese New Zealander
s) growing a wide range of vegetables. Kakanui has a particular reputation for its new-season potato
es, which sell throughout all New Zealand.
.
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
, in 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...
, fourteen kilometres to the south of Oamaru
Oamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
. The Kakanui River
Kakanui River
The Kakanui River is a river of North Otago, New Zealand, bridged by Highway 1 at Maheno and flowing into the Pacific Ocean at Kakanui.-References:...
and its estuary divide the township in two. The part of the settlement south of the river, also known as Kakanui South, formerly "Campbells Bay", was developed as a collection of crib
Bach (New Zealand)
A bach is a small, often very modest holiday home or beach house. Alternatively called a crib, they are an iconic part of New Zealand history and culture, especially in the middle of the 20th century, where they symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle that was becoming more accessible to the...
s (holiday homes). A recent increase in the development of subdivisions
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
have increased the density of dwellings within South Kakanui.
The Kakanui River reaches the sea near the town, and the low range known as the Kakanui Mountains stretch inland from south of Oamaru towards the Maniototo
Maniototo
The Maniototo Plain, usually simply known as The Maniototo, is an elevated inland region in Otago, New Zealand. The region roughly surrounds the upper reaches of the Taieri River and the Manuherikia River. It is bounded by the Kakanui Range to the north and the Rock and Pillar Range to the southeast...
. Kai Tahu used to temporarily occupy Kakanui as they travelled north and south, as evidenced by the midden
Midden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
on the north side of the estuary.
The area around Kakanui has a reputation for its limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
formations, and produces many fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s. Quarrying formerly took place. The rich and fertile soil of the area around the river has physical properties which make it perfect for use in sports grounds, especially cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
pitches. Many of New Zealands's top cricket venues use Kakanui soil on their wicket
Wicket
In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
blocks.
Beaches
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
break and the first safe swimming beach (apart from Timaru's
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
Caroline Bay) south of Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
. The beach has a length of approximately two kilometres, and the southern end, known as All Day Bay, offers more shelter than the northern end, but with less surf. The shingle beach north of the river mouth stretching toward Oamaru is not swimmable. The beaches in the area feature orange sand.
Horticulture
Kakanui's rich volanic soil suits intensive horticulture. The township contains a number of glasshouseGlasshouse
Glasshouse or Glasshouses may refer to:*Greenhouse, a building where plants are cultivated*Glasshouse , a 2006 novel by Charles Stross*Glasshouse , term for a military prison in the British Army...
s, primarily used for growing tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
es, but also producing cucumber
Cucumber
The cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same genus as the muskmelon. The plant is a creeping vine which bears cylindrical edible fruit when ripe. There are three main varieties of cucumber: "slicing", "pickling", and...
s and capsicum
Capsicum
Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...
s (bell peppers). Land surrounding the settlement (especially to the north towards the settlement of Totara) also features market garden
Market gardening
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
s (often operated by Chinese New Zealander
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
s) growing a wide range of vegetables. Kakanui has a particular reputation for its new-season potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es, which sell throughout all New Zealand.
History
Kakanui was once a bustling port on the northern side of the river, with a hotel, blacksmith, meat works, and a post office. Kakanui's commerce declined after the railway was built inland, going through MahenoMaheno, New Zealand
Maheno is a small North Otago township south of Oamaru in New Zealand. The area has 3705 residents, making it the third most populated area in North Otago, behind Oamaru and Oamaru North...
.