Ubiquitous online map provider Google has redrawn the boundaries of Otago and Canterbury, giving Waitaki District's more than 20,000 residents the dubious honour of becoming instant Cantabrians and placing the boundary a mere 40km north of Dunedin's Octagon.
Provincial leaders and residents living either side of the "new border'', which meets the coast between Waikouaiti and Palmerston, have been light-hearted in their reactions, while suggesting Google needs to correct the mistake as quickly as possible.
At the time of publication, Google - which on Friday corrected a disputed international border on its maps that had apparently caused an "accidental invasion'' of South American nation Costa Rica by Nicaraguan troops - had not responded to The Star's questions about the cause of the Canterbury-Otago boundary error and when it would be rectified. The Star identified the incorrect regional boundary last week.
It could not determine how long Google's maps, which are used by other companies, have been displaying the error.
In reality, Otago and Canterbury meet at the Waitaki River north of Oamaru.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton was surprised to hear he now presided over a Canterbury district. He thought Canterbury's claim on his 714,805ha stomping ground - encompassing Palmerston, Oamaru, Kurow and Omarama - could be sport-related.
"Just because Ritchie McCaw was raised and bred in our area but now plays for the Crusaders, that doesn't mean Canterbury can claim the whole area,'' Mr Familton said.
The people of Waitaki were friendly and adaptable but saw their future as lying more strongly with Otago, he said.
Canterbury regional territorial authority Environment Canterbury (ECan) deputy chairman David Caygill conceded Mr Familton had "a fair point''.
Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead did not agree with the suggestion his council might be pleased to give up Waitaki.
"We're not giving up anything,'' Mr Woodhead said.
He believed calling out the 4th Otago Southland Battalion to defend the province's borders could be premature, but should be "kept as something to consider later''.
"First we should try to talk to Google and get them to correct their mistake.''
ECan had "a busy agenda sorting out its own internal matters'' and should not try to acquire more land, Mr Woodhead said. "They should stick to their own patch.''
Google's redrawing of the boundary did not reflect an act of aggression by Canterbury, Mr Caygill said.
"Why would anyone regard Google maps as authoritative? ... This teaches us all we need to use 19th century written resources.''
Nor was it an attempt to solve Canterbury's water shortages. "I don't think it will be that simple. We'll still have to reach real agreement,'' he said.
Unhappy to now be living in the land of red and black is "former Otago'' farmer Ronald Sheat. Mr Sheat owns a 330ha cropping farm 8km north of Palmerston, which has been in his family since the 1920s.
Asked what the advantages of being part of Canterbury were, his succinct reply was: "None''.
More earthquakes were a certainty, he said.
A few kilometres south lives his friend, Waikouaiti Tavern and Motels owner Len Cross. Mr Cross felt no remorse at being excluded from Canterbury.
The regional divide was testing their friendship, which "probably won't survive'', Mr Cross said.
