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'Kaiapoi' is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch. Kaiapoi takes its name from a Māori pā [1]which was built just north of the site of the current town around the year 1700. The name itself refers to the scarcity of food that existed around the Pa. 'Kai' means food in Maori and 'poi' means to swing, as the food had to be 'swung' into the pa. The pa is often mistakenly called Kaiapohia, which is actually an insult to local Ngai Tahu who lived on the Pa. They were besieged by a North Island chief who destroyed the pa in 1832. Kai-apo-hia actually means the piling up of bodies to eat, something the chief Te Rauparaha ordered.
Kaiapoi is also known as the 'River Town' after the Kaiapoi River, a tributary of the Waimakariri River that flows through the center of the town. This was originally the main arm of the Waimakariri River, but extensive flooding led to a diversion so the majority of the water travelled down the South arm of the Waimakariri. The river used to have a port before the construction of the Waimakariri River bridge, and was an important point for the transport of goods to and from Christchurch.
Kaiapoi is located in the Waimakariri District. In the 2006 census, the population of the town was 10,200, with a further 1,700 residents in the surrounding district. This represents a growth rate of 11% over the previous five years.
The State Highway 1, which is a motorway at this point, passes by the west of the town. Originally the main street through Kaiapoi was State Highway 1, but the Northern Motorway was built to replace it some years ago. The Main North Line railway runs through Kaiapoi, and the town once served as the junction for the Eyreton Branch, which provided rail access to communities west of Kaiapoi such as West Eyreton (though it ran to the north of Eyreton itself). This branch line opened in 1875 and closed fully by April 1965.
Kaiapoi was well known for its Woollen Mill, and many woollen items produced at the mill can still be found throughout the world.
A freezing works (meat processing plant) was also a major employer in the town, and once this and the Woollen Mill had closed there was some economic turmoil in the town, and concern over its future. It however has survived and prospered, and although there is some local industry, a large percentage of the population works in the neighbouring city of Christchurch.
Kaiapoi has many facilities and parks for sport and recreation. On the town border is the famous Woodford Glen Speedway, and the National Scout headquarters.