What is "rakaia"

The town of Rakaia is seated close to the southern banks of the Rakaia River on the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island, approximately 57 km south of Christchurch on State Highway 1 and the Main South Line. Immediately north of the township are the country's longest road bridge and longest rail bridge, both of which cross the wide shingle beds of the braided river at this point. Both bridges are approximately 1750 metres in length.

Rakaia was also the junction of the Methven Branch, a branch line railway to Methven that operated from 1880 until its closure in 1976. An accident at the railway station in 1899 killed four people.

A township of under 1000 people, its most obvious feature is a large fibreglass salmon. The river from which the town takes its name is known for its salmon fishing and jetboating.

Rakaia was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury region from 1972 to 1978 and 1993 to 2008.

The seat was held by former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley from 1993 to 2002, and by Brian Connell from 2002 to 2008.

Rakaia is a town in Canterbury, New Zealand. It may also refer to:

• , a British cargo liner in service 1946-71

• Rakaia River, one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand

:* Rakaia Gorge, located on the Rakaia River in inland Canterbury

• Rakaia (New Zealand electorate), a former New Zealand electorate
• Rakaia railway accident, an accident on 11 March 1899 at the Rakaia Railway Station