Fairlie is a Mackenzie District service town (or township) located in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand.

[6][7] The town was initially called Fairlie's Creek, a name purportedly chosen by David Hamilton, the brother-in-law of James Lister (or Lizter), who had built a boarding house near the creek.

[15] The Mackenzie District Council provide local government services to Fairlie.

The Mackenzie District Council offices are located at 53 Main Street, Fairlie.

Miles Anderson of the National Party is the current member of parliament.

In April each year, the Glencairn ladies pairs tournament is held.

[26] The Mackenzie rugby football club is based in Fairlie at Strathconan Park.

It plays in all grades in the South Canterbury Rugby Union competitions.

After World War II, Tekapo and Pukaki also joined the Mackenzie sub union.

[29] Management of the pool was transferred from the Mackenzie District Council to Belgravia Leisure for the 2020–2021 season.

The location of the ice rink is two degrees Celsius colder than the town.

[31][32] The Mackenzie Half-Marathon which first ran in July 2020 starts in Fairlie.

[35] It was finished in early 2021 and would have cost the community significantly more had not 1200 hours of work been completed by local volunteers.

[36] The Fairlie heritage museum contains a collection of farm machinery, as well as many buildings including the old railway station.

[37][38] The Fairlie Heritage Museum has one of the biggest vintage wagon and carriage collections in the country.

[39][40] The Jack Lovelock memorial track is an eight kilometre walking trail in Fairlie, named in his honour.

[41] The Gladstone Grand Hotel is a category two listed building built in 1884.

[48] In 2017, Westpac closed their Fairlie branch which left the town without a bank.