[3] The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "dig for water" for Waikari.

[4] Waikari is located on State Highway 7 near the Weka Pass and was served by the Waiau Branch railway from 6 April 1882 until its closure on 15 January 1978.

In 1984, Waikari (and Hawarden) became the last towns in North Canterbury to be switched to an automatic telephone exchange.

[5] The town is also located near the site of Māori cave art and rock drawings in the Weka Pass Reserve.

Waikari is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 0.79 km2 (0.31 sq mi).