Moeraki

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Moeraki
Village
View from Moeraki Esplanade Reserve in 2009
Coordinates: 45°21′43″S 170°50′28″E / 45.362°S 170.841°E / -45.362; 170.841
Country	New Zealand
Region	Otago
Territorial authority	Waitaki District
Ward	Waihemo Ward
Community	Waihemo Community
Electorates	Waitaki Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Waitaki District Council
• Regional council	Otago Regional Council
• Mayor of Waitaki	Gary Kircher
• Waitaki MP	Miles Anderson
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	8.53 km2 (3.29 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	130
• Density	15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Moeraki is a small fishing village on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was once the location of a whaling station. In the 1870s, local interests believed it could become the main port for the north Otago area and a railway line, the Moeraki Branch, was built to the settlement and opened in 1877. However, the port could not compete with Oamaru and the lack of traffic as well as stability problems caused by difficult terrain led to the closure of the railway in 1879 after only two years' operation.

The village is best known for the nearby Moeraki Boulders.