Huntingdon, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Huntingdon is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury
region of New Zealand
's South Island
. It is situated on the southern bank of the Ashburton River, south of Ashburton
. Other nearby settlements include Willowby
to the west, Wheatstone
, Flemington
, and Ashton
to the south, and Wakanui to the east across the river.
, but the development of a watersports centre and an associated residential subdivision since 1987 has provided diversification.
, just inland from the Pacific Ocean
. A small lake, Lake Hood
, is situated beside the Ashburton River. In 1987, a project to develop Lake Hood was founded, and it is now a significant public water recreation facility surrounded by Huntingdon Park. It hosts kayaking
, rowing
, and water skiing
, augmented by walking trails through surrounding wetland
. Residential development has been pursued around this facility, growing the population of Huntingdon.
and the Main South Line
railway pass nearby to the northwest, through Tinwald
and Winslow.
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
region 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...
's 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...
. It is situated on the southern bank of the Ashburton River, south of Ashburton
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
. Other nearby settlements include Willowby
Willowby, New Zealand
Willowby is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated in Mid-Canterbury south of Ashburton, the major town of the area. Other nearby settlements include Hinds and Lynnford to the southwest, Eiffelton to the south, and Huntingdon to the...
to the west, Wheatstone
Wheatstone, New Zealand
Wheatstone is a locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the Canterbury Plains south of Ashburton, on the banks of the Ashburton River...
, Flemington
Flemington, Canterbury
Flemington is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.- Geography :Flemington is situated on the Canterbury Plains south of Ashburton, between the Ashburton River and Hinds River...
, and Ashton
Ashton, New Zealand
Ashton is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated on the Canterbury Plains south of Ashburton, on the Pacific Ocean coastline. It is on the southern side of the Ashburton River's mouth...
to the south, and Wakanui to the east across the river.
Economy
The primary economic activity in Huntingdon has been agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, but the development of a watersports centre and an associated residential subdivision since 1987 has provided diversification.
Environment
Huntingdon is situated on the Canterbury PlainsCanterbury Plains
The Canterbury Plains are an area in New Zealand centred to the south of the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury Region. Their northern extremes are at the foot of the Hundalee Hills in the Hurunui District, and in the south they merge into the plains of North Otago beyond the Waitaki...
, just inland from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. A small lake, Lake Hood
Lake Hood
Lake Hood is a man-made recreational lake, located 6 km south-east of Tinwald in the locality of Huntingdon, Canterbury, New Zealand. It was opened in 2001 by Right Honourable Jenny Shipley M.P. It is 2.3 km long by 1 km wide and is more than 80 hectares in area...
, is situated beside the Ashburton River. In 1987, a project to develop Lake Hood was founded, and it is now a significant public water recreation facility surrounded by Huntingdon Park. It hosts kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, rowing
Watercraft rowing
Watercraft rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of oars in the water. The difference between paddling and rowing is that with rowing the oars have a mechanical connection with the boat whereas with paddling the paddles are hand-held with no mechanical connection.This article...
, and water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, augmented by walking trails through surrounding wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
. Residential development has been pursued around this facility, growing the population of Huntingdon.
Transport
Huntingdon is off major transport routes. Both State Highway 1State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
and the Main South Line
Main South Line
The Main South Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, is a railroad line that runs north and south from Lyttelton in New Zealand through Christchurch and along the east coast of the South Island to Invercargill via Dunedin...
railway pass nearby to the northwest, through Tinwald
Tinwald, New Zealand
Tinwald is a town in Canterbury, New Zealand, now little more than a suburb of Ashburton. It lies to the south of the larger town, separated from it by the Ashburton River...
and Winslow.