DON'T DRINK THE WATER!!!
No, local joke

(i live in Timaru). Its a bit bigger then that - it has a new world hidden away there somewhere as well as the foursqure. They have a strawberry fair every year which is huge, the topp twins came to one a few years back. Its definatly a community town - everyone knows everyone sort of place. A woman raises wallabys and is a bit mental about them but you can also buy wallaby pies, the local speciality

.
There is a doctor in town, and a pharmacy but the Hospital is in Timaru.
Has a local rep as being back country and hillbilly - "waimo's" as the residents are referred to are often stereotyped as being hicks with missing teeth wearing flannel, denim overalls and marrying their cousins.
Despite all that though, i quite like waimate, its the sort of place where your neighbour trev will offer to get the mail in while you're away but will also mow your lawns and turn the sprinklers on because helping the neighbours is what you do. Kids run free on the street in and out of each others house playing soccer on the road until dinner time sort of vibe.