Kakanui is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Waitaki, one of 24 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Kakanui is the 6th largest suburb of Waitaki in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Kakanui provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1880 - 1889. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 2000 - 2009. Residential housing stock in Kakanui is made up of approximately 86% residential housing , 1% residential investment housing and 13% lifestyle properties.