South Canterbury

The Pacific Ocean and ridge of the Southern Alps form natural boundaries to the east and west respectively.

South Canterbury's geography covers a wide range of different terrains, from alpine slopes across the glacier carved lakes Tekapo and Pukaki and high country basin of the Mackenzie Country to undulating lowland hills and the Canterbury Plains.

Hydroelectricity generation is a major industry in the southern and western part of South Canterbury, along the catchment of the Waitaki River.

Other towns in South Canterbury include Temuka, Geraldine, Waimate, Pleasant Point, Fairlie, Twizel, Glenavy and Saint Andrews.

At the national level, most of South Canterbury's rural area is covered, along with much of North Otago, by the Waitaki electorate.