Rangiora is a rural town 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest town in North Canterbury and the seat of the Waimakariri District Council. The Ashley River is just to the north of the town.
Rangiora had a population of 15,000 (in 2013). The urban population has grown by over 10% in the last five years, while the rural population has increased more than 25%.
Rangiora suffered damage in the 2010–11 Canterbury earthquakes and a few parts still remain to be fixed.
Rangiora has seen exponential growth since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which pushed a lot more people out to Rangiora. It is very popular with people migrating from the UK.
The highest official temperature ever recorded in New Zealand was 42.4°C (108.3°F) at Rangiora on 7 February 1973. It is usually 1 degree hotter than in Christchurch.
- Northbrook Colonial Museum, Spark Lane (off Northbrook Rd. Open by appointment. Extensive collection of colonial exhibits including the country's largest collection of old bricks. $10.
- Rangiora Museum, 29 Good St, Waimakariri, +64 3 310 7356. Wed: 1.30 – 4.00PM; Sun: 1.30 – 4.00PM. Museum of town history including rooms from 1900, housed in a building that used to be the top floor of a bank before it was moved to the site.
- St John the Baptist Church. Wooden church built in 1859.
Northbrook Colonial Museum, Spark Lane (off Northbrook Rd. Open by appointment. Extensive collection of colonial exhibits including the country's largest collection of old bricks. $10.
Rangiora Museum, 29 Good St, Waimakariri, +64 3 310 7356. Wed: 1.30 – 4.00PM; Sun: 1.30 – 4.00PM. Museum of town history including rooms from 1900, housed in a building that used to be the top floor of a bank before it was moved to the site.
St John the Baptist Church. Wooden church built in 1859.
- Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park. Covers the Ashley River/Rakahuri area from the estuary up to the confluence with the Okuku River. Go fishing, swimming, gamebird hunting, walking, cycling and picnicking. Can be accessed from the northern end of town and other places.
- Dudley Park Aquatic Centre, 47 Church St. Mon-Fri 6AM-9PM, Sat & Sun 7.30AM-7PM. Indoor swimming pools.
- Dudley Park Skate Park, Church St.
- Mitre 10 mega Gymnastics facility, East Belt.
Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park. Covers the Ashley River/Rakahuri area from the estuary up to the confluence with the Okuku River. Go fishing, swimming, gamebird hunting, walking, cycling and picnicking. Can be accessed from the northern end of town and other places.
Dudley Park Aquatic Centre, 47 Church St. Mon-Fri 6AM-9PM, Sat & Sun 7.30AM-7PM. Indoor swimming pools.
Dudley Park Skate Park, Church St.
Mitre 10 mega Gymnastics facility, East Belt.
Three supermarkets. New World is popular with the older folks. Countdown is new.
A selection of restaurants of high quality, few dairies and fish n' chip shops, McDonalds and KFC with a splash of bakery.
Lots of rural houses sell their own foods, fruits, milk, produce, flowers, spices, wine, drink, and luxuries on their roadside counters.