Geraldine () is a town in the Canterbury region in the South Island of New Zealand. It is about 140 km south of Christchurch, and inland from Timaru, which is 38 km to the south. Geraldine is located on State Highway 79 between the Orari and Hae Hae Te Moana Rivers and 45 kilometres to the east of Fairlie.

History

There is evidence of Māori travels through the Geraldine area and artifacts and carvings have been discovered in the nearby areas of Beautiful Valley, Gapes Valley and Kakahu. The area was part of the continuous Canterbury Purchase or Kemp's Deed whereby over thirteen million acres was purchased by Henry Tacy Kemp on behalf of the Crown from Ngāi Tahu for £2,000 in 1848. Following the purchase the colonial surveyor Charles Torlesse visited the region in 1849. However, it wasn't until 1854 when Thomas Cass, the Chief Surveyor for the Canterbury region and Guise Brittan, Commissioner for Crown Lands, proposed a town site at Talbot Forest. Following this Samuel Hewlings under the employment of the government as a surveyor, constructed a bark hut where the probably future site of a town would be. In fact, a tōtara tree planted to commemorate the birth of Hewling's daughter with his wife Nga Hei, still stands today opposite the police station where his nearby bark hut once stood. While Hewlings was indeed the first to person to live in Geraldine, his residence was not permanent and Alfred Cox and William du Moulin abet on the other side of the river in Raukapuka were the town's first permanent residents. The town which up until 1857 was known as Talbot Forest was firstly named Fitzgerald in honour of James FitzGerald, the first Superintendent of the Canterbury Province. However, this was later changed to Geraldine though the exact reasoning for this is unknown. The name was agreed at a meeting of the Province on 8 May 1857. A 1958 history of the area said Geraldine was a name associated with the FitzGerald family for centuries.

Growth in the township was slow at first with separate towns being constructed such as Healey Town in present-day south Geraldine, Maslin Town between Kennedy and Hislop Street and the German settlement known as German Town on the Downs. By 1862 most of the main streets had been named and sections surveyed and the area gazetted in 1867. At this time timber milling and the numerous sheep runs in the area were the main sources of commerce. The town experienced significant growth during this period and as the timber ran out farming took over as the major source of income in the area.

In December 1904, Geraldine was constituted a borough.

Surroundings

Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve Within walking distance of the town centre is Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve. Talbot Forest is the last remaining remnants of a vast native forest that covered Geraldine and surrounding areas. The reserve is home to an impressive variety of native hardwoods, including mataī, kahikatea and tōtara, including one estimated to be 800 years old.

Native reserves The Geraldine area is home to numerous native reserves within driving distance. These include Kakahu Bush Reserve, Orari Gorge Scenic Reserve, Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve, Pioneer Park Conservation Area, Tenehaun Conservation Area, and Waihi Gorge Scenic Reserve.

Bats There are a number of colonies of the native long-tailed bat in the areas surrounding Geraldine (such as Talbot Forest and Hanging Rock). The 2019 Geraldine Festival took the opportunity to highlight the long-tailed bat by having the theme of "Geraldine's Gone Batty".

Education Geraldine has two schools:

Geraldine Primary School is a decile 8 state co-educational contributing school, with 296 students (as of October 2022)

Geraldine High School (est 1963) is a decile 8 state co-educational secondary school that provides for students years 7 through 13, with 605 students (as of October 2022)

Government

Local government Geraldine became a Town District in 1884, operating out of the historic Town Board Office. In 1904, Geraldine was constituted a borough. Presently, Geraldine is part of the Timaru District Council led by current mayor Nigel Bowen. Geraldine is represented by a community board and a councillor. Central government The Geraldine Electorate was first formed in the 1875–1876 election but would be twice disestablished and subsequently reestablished in the following years before being abolished in the 1911 election. The electorate was represented by six Members of Parliament. The electorate split between the newly established Temuka Electorate, however, majority of the land went to the Ashburton Electorate. Following controversial boundary changes in 2008, the Aoraki Electorate abolished and Geraldine became part of the Waitaki electorate with its head office in Oamaru despite nearby towns such as Temuka, Orari and Ashburton joining the Timaru based Rangitata electorate. Geraldine is currently part of the Waitaki electorate held by Miles Anderson of the National Party.

Demographics Geraldine covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Before the 2023 census, Geraldine had a smaller boundary, covering . Using that boundary, Geraldine had a population of 2,706 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 306 people (12.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 309 people (12.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,173 households, comprising 1,254 males and 1,449 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.87 males per female. The median age was 48.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 498 people (18.4%) aged under 15 years, 357 (13.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,068 (39.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 786 (29.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.7% European/Pākehā, 7.2% Māori, 1.0% Pasifika, 2.3% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.8% had no religion, 41.0% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 324 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 543 (24.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 297 people (13.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 939 (42.5%) people were employed full-time, 354 (16.0%) were part-time, and 42 (1.9%) were unemployed.

In 1951, the population of Geraldine was 1080 people. This increased to 1640 people in 1956 and 1832 people in 1961.

Entertainment and media

Movies are shown at the historic Geraldine Cinema on Talbot St, one of the longest-operating cinemas in New Zealand. Built in 1924 as the Town Hall, it was first building in Geraldine to be wired up for electricity, and included a projection booth for screening silent films. It opened on 25 August 1925 with a screening of North of the Yukon. Operated as a cinema and dance hall for many years by Cuth Knight before closing in 1967, it reopened in 1970, and has had several proprietors since. The cinema is well known for having a variety of couches in addition to standard cinema seating. There is a desire to see it become a registered historic building.

Geraldine's first radio station, Z100FM, operated in 1999–2000. This changed to Four Peaks FM in 2001. Just Country FM currently broadcasts from the town.

Amenities

Library The Geraldine library is located at 80 Talbot Street, the town's main street. It is open Monday to Fridays and on Saturday mornings. In late 2021, the library was repainted and new carpet was installed. This was the first refurbishment that the library had received since it was first opened in 2003.

Golf courses There are two golf courses in Geraldine: The Geraldine District Golf Course and the Grande Vue Golf Course.

Swimming pool The Geraldine summer pool is an outdoor pool that is open between November and March each year. It is located on Cox Street. The complex features a heated 25 metre long, six lane swimming pool, a learners pool and a toddlers pool. The Geraldine summer pool is home to the Geraldine Amateur Swimming Club which offers swimming lessons and also competes in various New Zealand swimming competitions.

Geraldine domain The Geraldine domain is located between Cox Street and Talbot Street. At just over eleven hectares in size, the domain includes a playground, pavilion, gardens and the Serpentine Creek. There are a number of sports grounds based at the domain. These include grounds for playing cricket, football and athletics. There are also tennis courts, netball courts and a bowls club. Fundraising was occurring in late 2021 to raise just over $1 million to redevelop Geraldine domain. The aim of the project is to lay artificial turf to provide a hockey training facility. as well as install new cricket nets, new signage, storage facilities, floodlights and parking.

Economy

Agricultural The agricultural industry is at the heart of the local economy. In the 1960s sheep farming was the most common type of farming with some mixed farming (including wheat), dairy farming, and market gardening also present. While there has been a substantial increase in dairy farms in the region over the last twenty years, there are still large sectors involved in the cropping, deer, sheep and beef. Many small local businesses service the needs of the surrounding agricultural industry. Large agricultural processing facilities operate in the area include Fonterra's Clandeboye facility and Barkers of Geraldine as well as numerous smaller industrial operations. Geraldine is also home to Barker's of Geraldine which both grows the fruit and produces jams, chutney, sauces, syrups and blackcurrant juice from it.

Tourism Geraldine sits on the highway many international and domestic tourists take on their way from Christchurch to the Mackenzie Country, Lake Tekapo, or the popular tourist destinations of Queenstown and Wānaka. There are numerous cafes, restaurants and shops which cater for tourists all year round. The town is also home to various tourist operators which showcase the local natural environment such as rafting, horse trekking and tours.

Museums

Geraldine Historical Museum

The Geraldine Historical Museum aims to display the history of the Geraldine area. It is located on Cox Street, and incorporates the former Town Board Office building. As well as covering early European settlement there is a display on the long-tailed bats of Kakahu Forest.

Geraldine Vintage Car & Machinery Museum The Geraldine Vintage Car & Machinery Museum, located at 178 Talbot Street on the southern edge of town, has a vehicle collection spread over seven buildings including 100 tractors dating back to the early 1900s, a 1929 Spartan biplane, the vintage motion picture projectors once used in the Geraldine Cinema, the ship’s engine from the Rangatira, and more than 50 vintage cars. It was founded in the early 1970s by collector Jack Morrison to display his own cars, and later that decade gifted to the Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Club, started by the Geraldine Young Farmers in 1967. In 2021 the museum opened a new display of 24 pedal cars and a collection of miniature trains, tractors and airplanes.

Route 79 Museum The Route 79 Museum is located just outside of Geraldine at 10 Craig Road. Owned by retired helicopter engineer Paul Robins, it houses his vehicle collection including vintage motorbikes, horse buggies, a 1963 International Australian Army truck, a Bofors anti-aircraft gun, and a 5.5 inch artillery gun he bought from the New Zealand Army.

Geraldine Military Museum