[2] The Kaikōura District extends from the Pacific Ocean to the highest points of the Kaikōura Ranges to the west, and along the coastline from Oaro in the south, to just beyond Kekerengu in the north.

[3] Populated places within the district, aside from Kaikōura township, include:

[4] During the era of provincial government from 1853, the Kaikōura region was initially part of the Nelson Province, and was represented at the Nelson Provincial Council through the Amuri electorate.

[5] Provincial government was abolished at the end of 1876, and counties were formed instead.

[7] The 1989 local government reforms disestablished all counties, and district and regional councils were formed instead.

This meant that the public holiday established through the Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Act 2011 did not apply in Kaikōura District, as it only applied to the area where the Canterbury Anniversary Day is observed.

The results were 87.0% European (Pākehā); 19.0% Māori; 1.0% Pasifika; 3.9% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

Of those at least 15 years old, 417 (11.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,992 (55.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,038 (29.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications.

[10] In 2020, the GDP of the Kaikōura District was $232 million, with an annual growth for the region of 1.6%.