Rangiora, New Zealand
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Rangiora is a rural town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest town in north Canterbury and the seat of the Waimakariri District Council.
Rangiora is 25 kilometres to the north of Christchurch, close to the northern end of the inland Canterbury route (formerly State Highway 72), which skirts the inner edge of the Canterbury Plains, running southwest to Timaru via Oxford and Geraldine. The Ashley River is just to the north of the town.
As of the 2001 census the population of the urban area was 10,800, with a further 3,500 in the surrounding rural area. Both urban and rural areas have seen population growth in excess of 11% in the preceding 5 years, a trend which has continued. The town has several primary schools and two secondary schools.
Being further inland than most of Christchurch, Rangiora experiences hotter summers and colder winters. The highest official temperature ever recorded in New Zealand was 42.4° C (108.3° F) at Rangiora in February 1973. Rangiora often has more snow than Christchurch.
Rangiora is sometimes colloquially referred to as 'Rangoon', which can be further shortened to 'Goon'. Residents of the town (particularly the younger demographic) are referred to as 'rangoons', 'gooners' or simply 'goons'.
Rangiora is also the name of an endemic New Zealand shrub or small tree. (See Rangiora (plant))
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