Latest News & Articles

Whale Trail: New section of great cycleway opens

Released 31 March 2025 - Stuff

The Whale Trail will mark a ‘‘significant milestone’’ next week, as the cycle and walkway weaves its way down from Picton to Kaikōura.

A celebration will be held in Ward, about 45km south of Blenheim, on April 11 to mark the completion of the 39km Flaxbourne section of the cycle trail.

When complete, the Whale Trail is expected to cover about 200km and will take four to five days to ride.

Kaikōura’s bid to attract the top marine brains

Released 27 March 2025 - RNZ

Kaikōura's council is keen to attract international researchers to study its rich ocean environment, with the lofty goal of becoming a global centre for marine research.

Read full article (online)

Endangered Species Aotearoa

Released 24 March 2025 - Season 2, Episode 4 - TVNZ+

Join comedian Pax Assadi and conservationist Nicola Toki on a journey of discovery to learn about the vulnerable wildlife species facing extinction in Aotearoa and the South Pacific. Made with support from NZ On Air.

Giant Weta
Hutton Shearwater, world's only alpine breeding seabird
Albatrosses
Hector's dolphins
Dusky Dolphins
New Zealand fur seal

Watch episode here.

SH1 lights to be changed to protect Kaikōura's birds

Released 20 March 2025 - One News

The country’s roading authority is to turn down the lights in Kaikōura.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will begin replacing the old-style sodium lights along State Highway 1, between Killarney St and Mill Rd, with LED lights from next month.

The announcement follows the district’s international dark sky sanctuary accreditation, which was announced by Dark Sky International in September last year.

Read full article (online)

Kaikōura seabirds fight for survival

Released 17 March 2025 - RNZ

Crash-landings have begun earlier than usual, as Kaikōura's Hutton's shearwater birds / tītī continue to battle against the elements and bright lights.

Read full article here (online or PDF)

2024 0408 CTrahan Kaikoura AroundTown 87 Edit

The South Island town that’s booming amid economic uncertainty

Released 11 March 2025 - Stuff

Kaikōura’s tourism sector is booming, despite economic uncertainty and the average summer weather, Destination Kaikōura deputy chairperson Lynette Buurman says.

Full article (PDF / online)

Kaikōura basking in spectacular new attractions

Released 7 march 2025 - 1News

Kaikōura has faced its fair share of tests in the past decade but, according to the district council and locals, now is its time to shine.

The completion of a number of waterfront projects, and the start of others, is proof the seaside community is flourishing once again, they say.

Full article (PDF / online including video).

Incredible photos show pod of around 450 dusky dolphins off Kaikōura coast

Released 5 March 2025 - The New Zealand Herald

A Christchurch pilot had the encounter of a lifetime when he flew over a pod of approximately 450 dolphins swimming off the Kaikōura coast.

See full article (PDF / online)

Kaikōura’s untapped potential in marine education

Released 4 March 2025 - Stuff

Kaikōura has a ‘‘fantastic opportunity’’ to tap into marine education but needs funding to realise its potential, the boss of Kaikōura District Council says.

As the town celebrates Sea Week, which runs until March 9, advocates are reminding people of the district’s potential for marine research.

Read full article (PDF / online)

Exploring New Zealand’s Wild Flavours, Māori Culture & Volcanic Hot Spring Cooking | DIRT New Zealand

Released 28 Feb 2025 - Huckberry channels

They say you come to New Zealand as a stranger, but leave as family. In this episode of DIRT, the crew goes full circle—meeting Muttonbird chefs Emma and George on the South Island before hopping up to Raglan and working their way back down. Water-skiing next to snow-capped mountains, cooking in hot springs the Māori way, and stargazing at Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve are all on the itinerary. But it’s the final “Feed” done Kiwi-style that makes one thing clear—in this unique and stunning land, nobody’s a stranger for long.

Patrnership with Tourism New Zealand on this episode of DIRT.

Kaikōura Operators featured in this video (from 26:10):

- Hapuku Kitchen

- Mt Fyffe Gin Distillery

- South Pacific Helicopters

- Dolphin Encounter

Full video here.

‘Breathtaking’ moment rare whales spotted in Kaikōura

Released 15 Feb 2025 - Stuff

A pair of rare fin whales were spotted off the Kaikōura coast on Friday.

A group of Kiwi content creators on a whale watching trip with South Pacific Helicopters filmed as they witnessed the encounter with the rare species.

Fin whale sightings are rarely recorded in Aotearoa or elsewhere in the world, and the species are considered vulnerable to extinction.

Read the article and see the video

Land Girl: Centenarian's lessons from a lifetime of farming

Released 26 January 2025 - RNZ

High up on the Kaikōura Peninsula, with panoramic views of snowcapped mountains, lush farmland and sparkling ocean, lives a remarkable woman whose life stretches across more than a century.

Read the whole article (online / PDF)

Scenic Escape

Released 1 Jan 2025 - Kia Ora Magazine

Take a scenic journey along the South Island’s storied Pacific coast and discover the wild wonders of Kaikōura.

WITH THE ROLLING swells of the Pacific Ocean flanking one side and the white-capped Kaikōura Ranges rising from the other, it’s hard to beat the Coastal Pacific panoramic 348km rail excursion between Ōtautahi Christchurch and Picton.

And – thanks to Great Journey New Zealand’s recently refurbished Scenic Plus premium carriage – ringside seats are better than ever, serving a fully hosted experience with storytelling, top-notch service, and a paddock-to-plate degustation style menu that showcases the regions you’re travelling through.

Read the full article here