Kaikoura (Neuseeland)

Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1, 180 km north of Christchurch.Kaikoura became the first local authority in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve recognition by the EarthCheck Community Standard.The town has an estimated permanent resident population of. The town is the governmental seat of the territorial authority of the Kaikoura District, which is politically a part of the Canterbury region. The District has a land area of 2,046.41 km² and an estimated population of inhabitants; which includes other settlements within the district such as Kekerengu, Clarence, Rakautara, Hapuku, Ocean Ridge, The Elms, Peketa, Goose Bay, Omihi and Oaro.The infrastructure of Kaikoura was heavily damaged in the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, which also caused two deaths in the area. The sea level of the bay and surrounding region was lifted by as much as 2 meters.HistoryFrom 1853 to 1876, Kaikoura was administrated as part of the Nelson Province. In 1876 the Kaikoura County was formed.2016 earthquakeOn 14 November 2016, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the South Island just after midnight. It left two people dead and triggered a small tsunami. One thousand tourists and hundreds of residents were stranded in Kaikoura after the earthquake cut off train and vehicle access.