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MacKenzie Country is one part of South Canterbury that is an area of national distinction. The Mackenzie District has New Zealand’s highest mountains, and its waters have become one of the country’s most important sources of energy.
The first scenic reserves in Aoraki/Mt Cook's Tasman and Hooker valleys were set aside in 1887. The Murchison Valley was added in 1917 and the Godley Valley in 1927. These reserves were merged into the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park in 1953. The park now measures 70,111 hectares.
With those majestic mountain peaks, it will be no surprise that the main activities in MacKenzie country are mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, skiing and snowboarding.
The area is named after folk hero James ‘Jock’ Mackenzie, a shepherd and would-be farmer who lived in the mid 1800’s. He was captured for allegedly stealing 1,000 sheep, claimed innocence, and escaped. He was recaptured and sentenced to five years’ hard labour, but escaped twice more. Later, his trial was found to be flawed and he was pardoned. His exploits, and those of his dog, won him widespread public sympathy.
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