Wakari
Encyclopedia
Wakari is a residential suburb of the New Zealand
city of Dunedin
. It is located 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the northwest of the city centre, immediately to the west of the ridge which runs to the west of the city's centre. Wakari lies to the north of the upper reaches of the Kaikorai Valley
, and is also north of the suburb of Kaikorai. The suburbs of Roslyn
and Maori Hill
are situated on the ridge immediately to the southeast and east of Wakari. The suburb of Halfway Bush
lies to the northwest, andx the smaller suburb of Helensburgh lies to the north.
The population was 3,069 in the 2006 Census
, a decrease of 39 from 2001.
Wakari's name is likely to be a corruption of the Māori
Whakaari, which translates as "a raised view". This was the name for the hill, Flagstaff
, which lies 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the northwest. For this reason, the suburb's name is sometimes pronounced locally as waɪˈkæriː rather than the more widely accepted ˈwɒkəriː .
The suburb is bounded in the south by Taieri Road, a main suburban arterial route which links central Dunedin with the Taieri Plains
. West of Halfway Bush, the road becomes Three Mile Hill Road, crossing the eponymous hill to reach the Taieri Plain northeast of Mosgiel
. To the southeast of Wakari, Taieri Road runs under the Roslyn Overbridge
and becomes Stuart Street
, one of central Dunedin's main streets. Other main roads in and around Wakari include Balmacewen Road in the northern part of the suburb, Helensburgh Road in the northeast, Nairn Street, and Shetland Street.
Wakari's most prominent structure is the Wakari Hospital
, one of Dunedin's main health care centres, which specialises in psychiatric services. This hospital is located in the west of the suburb, close to its boundary with Halfway Bush.
. Helensburgh is bounded in the northeast by the Balmacewen Golf Course.
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...
city of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. It is located 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the northwest of the city centre, immediately to the west of the ridge which runs to the west of the city's centre. Wakari lies to the north of the upper reaches of the Kaikorai Valley
Kaikorai Valley
Kaikorai Valley is a long broad valley which runs through the west of the New Zealand city of Dunedin, to the west of the city centre. It is the valley of a small stream, the Kaikorai Stream,which runs from northeast to southwest down the length of the valley.The valley provides a route into...
, and is also north of the suburb of Kaikorai. The suburbs of Roslyn
Roslyn, Otago
Roslyn is a major residential and retail suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located above the city centre on the ridge which runs in a crescent around the central city's western edge. It is to the northwest of the city centre, immediately above the Town Belt. Roslyn's 2001...
and Maori Hill
Maori Hill
Maori Hill is a residential suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located at the northern end of the ridge which runs in a crescent around the central city's western edge, to the northwest of the city centre, immediately above and within the Town Belt...
are situated on the ridge immediately to the southeast and east of Wakari. The suburb of Halfway Bush
Halfway Bush
Halfway Bush is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located to the northwest of the city centre, close to the point at which Taieri Road becomes the winding rural Three Mile Hill Road...
lies to the northwest, andx the smaller suburb of Helensburgh lies to the north.
The population was 3,069 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, a decrease of 39 from 2001.
Wakari's name is likely to be a corruption of the Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
Whakaari, which translates as "a raised view". This was the name for the hill, Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Otago
Flagstaff is a prominent hill overlooking the northwest of the city of Dunedin, in New Zealand's South Island. Together with Mount Cargill, which lies to its northeast, it dominates the skyline of the city...
, which lies 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the northwest. For this reason, the suburb's name is sometimes pronounced locally as waɪˈkæriː rather than the more widely accepted ˈwɒkəriː .
The suburb is bounded in the south by Taieri Road, a main suburban arterial route which links central Dunedin with the Taieri Plains
Taieri Plains
The Taieri Plains are an area of fertile agricultural land to the southwest of Dunedin, in Otago, New Zealand. The plains cover an area of some 300 square kilometres, with a maximum extent of 30 kilometres....
. West of Halfway Bush, the road becomes Three Mile Hill Road, crossing the eponymous hill to reach the Taieri Plain northeast of Mosgiel
Mosgiel
Mosgiel is an urban satellite of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand, fifteen kilometres west of the city's centre. Since the re-organisation of New Zealand local government in 1989 it has been inside the Dunedin City Council area, but was physically separate from the contiguous suburbs until...
. To the southeast of Wakari, Taieri Road runs under the Roslyn Overbridge
Roslyn Overbridge
The Roslyn Overbridge is a landmark in the New Zealand city of Dunedin. Located northwest of the city's centre , it allows for the passage of the arterial Upper Stuart Street under Highgate, the main suburban road which runs along the ridge of hills which surrounds the city centre.The bridge,...
and becomes Stuart Street
Stuart Street, Dunedin
Stuart Street is one of the main streets of Dunedin, New Zealand. As with many of Dunedin's streets, it is named after a main street in Edinburgh, Scotland....
, one of central Dunedin's main streets. Other main roads in and around Wakari include Balmacewen Road in the northern part of the suburb, Helensburgh Road in the northeast, Nairn Street, and Shetland Street.
Wakari's most prominent structure is the Wakari Hospital
Wakari Hospital
Wakari Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in Dunedin, New Zealand.It is situated in the suburb of Wakari, about three kilometres north-west of the city centre...
, one of Dunedin's main health care centres, which specialises in psychiatric services. This hospital is located in the west of the suburb, close to its boundary with Halfway Bush.
Helensburgh
The small suburb of Helensburgh is located immediately to the north of Wakari and east of Halfway Bush. It is located on a series of small crescents which branch off the northern side of Helensburgh Road and off Wakari Road, which runs roughly parallel with Helensburgh Road some 300 metres (984.3 ft) to the northwest (confusingly, this means that Helensburgh Road is largely in Wakari, and Wakari Road is largely in Helensburgh). Wakari Road, a long, straight semi-rural road, links Taieri Road with Glenleith, 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) to the northwest, by way of the forest plantations surrounding Ross Creek ReservoirRoss Creek Reservoir
The Ross Creek Reservoir is an artificial lake in Dunedin, New Zealand. One of the oldest artificial lakes in the country, and the oldest water supply reservoir still in use in the country, it was created in the 1860s to provide water for the city of Dunedin, at that time in the middle of rapid...
. Helensburgh is bounded in the northeast by the Balmacewen Golf Course.