Robert Sarkies (born 6 March 1967) is a New Zealand film director and screenwriter.
78-515: Aramoana is a small coastal settlement 27 kilometres (17 mi) north of Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand . The settlement's permanent population in the 2001 Census was 261. Supplementing this are seasonal visitors from the city who occupy cribs . The name Aramoana is Māori for "pathway of the sea". It was founded by the Otago Harbour Board and established in the 1880s as
156-621: A pilot station for navigation around the mouth of the Otago Harbour. This area grew into a small farming village. In the 1950s, the town became popular as a beach resort and a rural life village due to the construction of a mole to inhibit the spread of tidal sands into the mouth of Otago Harbour and was surveyed and amalgamated as a suburb of Port Chalmers borough. It is the site of the Aramoana massacre , New Zealand's second deadliest criminal shooting, on 13 and 14 November 1990. The settlement
234-552: A 'heritage city' with its main streets refurbished in the Victorian style . R. A. Lawson 's Municipal Chambers ( Dunedin Town Hall ) in the Octagon were handsomely restored. The city was also recognised as a centre of excellence in tertiary education and research. The university's and polytechnic's growth accelerated. Dunedin has continued to refurbish itself, embarking on redevelopments of
312-610: A central city studio. Numerous large companies had been established in Dunedin, many of which became national leaders. Late among them was Fletcher Construction , founded by Sir James Fletcher in the early 20th century. Kempthorne Prosser , established in 1879 in Stafford Street, was the largest fertiliser and drug manufacturer in the country for over 100 years. G. Methven , a metalworking and tap manufacturer based in South Dunedin ,
390-645: A land area of 3,314.8 km (1,279.9 sq mi), slightly larger than the American state of Rhode Island or the English county of Cambridgeshire , and a little smaller than Cornwall . It was the largest city in land area in New Zealand until the formation of the 5,600 km (2,200 sq mi) Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. The Dunedin City Council boundaries since 1989 have extended to Middlemarch in
468-547: A long finger of land that formed the southeastern rim of the Dunedin Volcano . The peninsula is lightly settled, almost entirely along the harbour coast, and much of it is maintained as a natural habitat by the Otago Peninsula Trust . The peninsula contains several fine beaches, and is home to a considerable number of rare species including Yellow-eyed and Little penguins, seals , and shags . Taiaroa Head on
546-478: A people called Kahui Tipua living in the area, then Te Rapuwai, semi-legendary but considered to be historical. The next arrivals were Waitaha , followed by Kāti Māmoe late in the 16th century and then Kāi Tahu ( Ngāi Tahu in modern standard Māori ) who arrived in the mid-17th century. European accounts have often represented these successive influxes as "invasions", but modern scholarship has cast doubt on that view. They were probably migrations – like those of
624-462: A population of 29,832 displacing Auckland's 27,840 residents to second place. Between 1881 and 1957, Dunedin was home to cable trams , being both one of the first and last such systems in the world. Early in the 1880s the inauguration of the frozen meat industry, with the first shipment leaving from Port Chalmers in 1882, saw the beginning of a later great national industry. The first successful commercial shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to
702-564: A rampage in which 13 people were shot dead, before Gray was shot by police. A monument to the 13 victims stands on the dunes near to the Aramoana Mole. In 2006, New Zealand director Robert Sarkies released a film based on the events, Out of the Blue . Dunedin Dunedin ( / d ʌ ˈ n iː d ɪ n / duh- NEE -din ; Māori : Ōtepoti ) is the second-largest city in
780-505: A similar gradient close to its Mornington depot. Beyond the inner range of hills lie Dunedin's outer suburbs, notably to the northwest, beyond Roslyn. This direction contains Taieri Road and Three Mile Hill, which between them formed the original road route to the Taieri Plains . The modern State Highway 1 follows a different route, passing through Caversham in the west and out past Saddle Hill. Lying between Saddle Hill and Caversham are
858-433: A teenager with fellow filmmaker Simon Perkins and Lindsay Chalmers. After winning an international award for his short Dream-makers , Sarkies began work on his most ambitious short to date: adventure comedy Signing Off (1996), which won four international awards and helped attract funding for Scarfies (1999), his feature debut. Signing Off was produced by film and television producer Lisa Chatfield. Sarkies co-wrote
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#1732858602406936-585: A variety of different landforms. To the southwest lie the Taieri Plains , the broad, fertile lowland floodplains of the Taieri River and its major tributary, the Waipori . These are moderately heavily settled, and contain the towns of Mosgiel , and Allanton . They are separated from the coast by a range of low hills rising to some 300 metres (980 ft). Inland from the Taieri Plain is rough hill country. Close to
1014-584: A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars , served as the secular leader of the new colony. The Reverend Thomas Burns (1796–1871), a nephew of the poet Robert Burns , provided spiritual guidance. By the end of the 1850s, around 12,000 Scots had emigrated to Dunedin, many from the industrial lowlands . In 1852, Dunedin became the capital of the Otago Province , the whole of New Zealand from the Waitaki south. In 1861,
1092-525: A vibrant youth culture (students are referred to as 'Scarfies' by people who are not students), consisting of the previously mentioned music scene , and more recently a burgeoning boutique fashion industry. A strong visual arts community also exists in Dunedin, notably in Port Chalmers and the other settlements which dot the coast of the Otago Harbour , and also in communities such as Waitati . Sport
1170-513: Is catered for in Dunedin by the floodlit rugby and cricket venues of Forsyth Barr Stadium and University Oval, Dunedin , respectively, the new Caledonian Ground football and athletics stadium near the university at Logan Park , the large Edgar Centre indoor sports centre, the Dunedin Ice Stadium , and numerous golf courses and parks. There is also the Wingatui horseracing course to
1248-446: Is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.49 km (0.19 sq mi), and had an estimated population of 130 as of June 2024, with a population density of 265 people per km. It is part of the much larger Mount Cargill statistical area . Aramoana had a population of 111 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 24 people (27.6%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 33 people (42.3%) since
1326-438: Is frequent, since much of this rainfall occurs in drizzle or light rain and heavy rain is relatively rare. Dunedin is one of the cloudiest major centres in the country, recording approximately 1,850 hours of bright sunshine per annum. Prevailing wind in the city is mainly a sometimes cool southwesterly and during late spring will alternate with northeasterlies. Warmer, dry northwest winds are also characteristic Foehn winds from
1404-407: Is known as the Octagon . It was once a gully, filled in the mid-nineteenth century to create the present plaza. The initial settlement of the city took place to the south on the other side of Bell Hill , a large outcrop which had to be reduced to provide easy access between the two parts of the settlement. The central city stretches away from this point in a largely northeast–southwest direction, with
1482-486: Is located on a sand dune spit at the mouth of the Otago Harbour , opposite the end of the Otago Peninsula . The main channel of the harbour is kept clear by the Aramoana mole , an artificial breakwater which extends for 1200 metres from Aramoana. The mole was originally intended to extend another 600 metres into the ocean, however due to tidal patterns and the instability of the construction, no attempt to extend beyond
1560-687: Is served by the Port Chalmers Branch , a branch line railway which diverges from the Main South Line and runs from Christchurch by way of Dunedin to Invercargill . Dunedin is also home to MTF , the nationwide vehicle finance company. The cityscape glitters with gems of Victorian and Edwardian architecture—the legacy of the city's gold-rush affluence. Many, including First Church, Otago Boys' High School and Larnach Castle were designed by one of New Zealand's most eminent architects R. A. Lawson . Other prominent buildings include Olveston and
1638-645: Is uncommon (perhaps every two or three years), except in the inland hill suburbs such as Halfway Bush and Wakari, which tend to receive a few days of snowfall each year. Spring can feature "four seasons in a day" weather, but from November to April it is generally settled and mild. Temperatures during summer can reach 30 °C (86 °F). Due to its maritime influence, Dunedin's mild summers and mild winters both stand out considering its latitude. Dunedin has relatively low rainfall in comparison to many of New Zealand's cities, with usually only between 600 and 750 millimetres (30 in) recorded per year. However, wet weather
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#17328586024061716-500: The 2006 census . There were 54 households, comprising 69 males and 42 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.64 males per female. The median age was 52.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 15 people (13.5%) aged under 15 years, 9 (8.1%) aged 15 to 29, 72 (64.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 18 (16.2%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 97.3% European/ Pākehā , 2.7% Māori , and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer
1794-741: The Dunedin Railway Station . Other unusual or memorable buildings or constructions are Baldwin Street , claimed to be the world's steepest residential street; the Captain Cook tavern; Cadbury Chocolate Factory ( Cadbury World ) (In 2018, both the factory and Cadbury World closed to make way for a new NZ$ 1.4 billion hospital to replace the existing Dunedin Public Hospital ); and the Speight's brewery. The thriving tertiary student population has led to
1872-564: The Scarfies script with his younger brother, playwright and performer Duncan and award winning producer Lisa Chatfield. Winner of seven awards including Best Picture and Best Director at the NZ Film Awards, and a local hit, the film is part comedy, part thriller, and partly a celebration of being a university student in Dunedin. Scarfies was later released on video in the United States under
1950-529: The Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland . Charles Kettle the city's surveyor, instructed to emulate the characteristics of Edinburgh, produced a striking, "Romantic" town-planning design. There resulted both grand and quirky streets, as the builders struggled and sometimes failed to construct his bold vision across the challenging landscape. Captain William Cargill (1784–1860),
2028-523: The Second World War . Dunedin and the region industrialised and consolidated, and the Main South Line connected the city with Christchurch in 1878 and Invercargill in 1879. Otago Boys' High School was founded in 1863. The Otago Museum opened in 1868. The University of Otago , the oldest university in New Zealand, in 1869. Otago Girls' High School was established in 1871. By 1874, Dunedin and its suburbs had become New Zealand's largest city with
2106-535: The South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch ), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from Dùn Èideann ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland . The city has a rich Māori , Scottish , and Chinese heritage. With an estimated population of 136,000 as of June 2024, Dunedin is New Zealand's seventh-most populous metropolitan and urban area. For cultural, geographical, and historical reasons,
2184-636: The Southern District Health Board confirmed that test results indicated that long-term exposure to lead in the water supply posed little risk to the local population. In late January 2024, the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council released a joint draft strategy to expand housing development and industrial land over the next thirty years to accommodate a projected 10% population growth. The Dunedin City territorial authority has
2262-746: The Whitcoulls group—had its origins in Dunedin in the 19th century. There were also the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand , Wright Stephensons Limited , the Union Steamship Company and the National Insurance Company and the Standard Insurance Company among many others, which survived into the 20th century. After the Second World War prosperity and population growth revived, although Dunedin trailed as
2340-525: The art gallery , railway station and the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum . Meanwhile, the continued blossoming of local creative writing saw the city gain UNESCO City of Literature status in 2014. Dunedin has flourishing niche industries including engineering, software engineering, biotechnology and fashion. Port Chalmers on the Otago Harbour provides Dunedin with deep-water facilities. It
2418-468: The 1980s birthplace of the Dunedin sound (which heavily influenced grunge , indie and modern alternative rock ). In 2014, the city was designated as a UNESCO City of Literature . Archaeological evidence shows the first human (Māori) occupation of New Zealand occurred between 1250 and 1300 AD, with the population concentrated along the southeast coast. A camp site at Kaikai Beach, near Long Beach to
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2496-575: The British royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York toured Dunedin. In the 1930s and early 1940s a new generation of artists such as M. T. (Toss) Woollaston , Doris Lusk , Anne Hamblett, Colin McCahon and Patrick Hayman once again represented the best of the country's talent. The Second World War saw the dispersal of these painters, but not before McCahon had met a very youthful poet, James K. Baxter , in
2574-491: The Europeans – which incidentally resulted in bloodshed. The sealer John Boultbee recorded in the late 1820s that the 'Kaika Otargo' (settlements around and near Otago Harbour ) were the oldest and largest in the south. Lieutenant James Cook stood off what is now the coast of Dunedin between 25 February 1770 and 5 March 1770, naming Cape Saunders (on the Otago Peninsula ) and Saddle Hill. He reported penguins and seals in
2652-590: The Otago Harbour. Epidemics severely reduced the Māori population. By the late 1830s, the Harbour had become an international whaling port. Wright & Richards started a whaling station at Karitane in 1837 and Sydney-born Johnny Jones established a farming settlement and a mission station (the South Island's first) at Waikouaiti in 1840. The settlements at Karitane and Waikouaiti have endured, making modern Dunedin one of
2730-577: The Pacific Ocean by a long line of dunes which run east–west along the city's southern coastline and separate residential areas from Ocean Beach , which is traditionally divided into St. Clair Beach at the western end and St Kilda Beach to the east. Dunedin is home to Baldwin Street , which, according to the Guinness Book of Records , is the steepest street in the world. Its gradient is 1 in 2.9. The long-since-abandoned Maryhill Cablecar route had
2808-628: The Pacific Ocean. Archaeological evidence points to lengthy occupation of the area by Māori prior to the arrival of Europeans. The province and region of Otago takes its name from the Ngāi Tahu village of Otakou at the mouth of the harbour, which became a whaling station in the 1830s. In 1848 a Scottish settlement was established by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland and between 1855 and 1900 many thousands of Scots emigrated to
2886-426: The South Island city of Dunedin . He attended Kaikorai Valley College . His three feature films to date have been set in Dunedin, or in the lower South Island. After his debut feature Scarfies , Sarkies followed it in 2006 with Out of the Blue , based on the 1990 Aramoana Massacre , then black comedy Two Little Boys , starring Bret McKenzie and Australia's Hamish Blake . Sarkies began making short films as
2964-599: The United Kingdom was on the Dunedin in 1881. After ten years of gold rushes the economy slowed but Julius Vogel 's immigration and development scheme brought thousands more, especially to Dunedin and Otago, before recession set in again in the 1880s. In these first and second times of prosperity, many institutions and businesses were established, New Zealand's first daily newspaper, art school , medical school and public art gallery. The Dunedin Public Art Gallery
3042-441: The census's question about religious affiliation, 59.5% had no religion, 21.6% were Christian and 8.1% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (21.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 12 (12.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $ 29,500, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 18 people (18.8%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
3120-524: The central city (most of these hills, such as Maori Hill , Pine Hill, and Maryhill , rise to some 200 metres [660 ft] above the plain). The head of the harbour includes a large area of reclaimed land ("The Southern Endowment"), much of which is used for light industry and warehousing. A large area of flat land, simply known colloquially as "The Flat" lies to the south and southwest of the city centre, and includes several larger and older suburbs, notably South Dunedin and St Kilda . These are protected from
3198-716: The city centre, starting at due north) Burkes ; Saint Leonards ; Deborah Bay; Careys Bay; Port Chalmers ; Sawyers Bay; Roseneath; Broad Bay ; Company Bay ; Macandrew Bay ; Portobello ; Burnside ; Green Island ; Waldronville ; Westwood ; Saddle Hill; Sunnyvale ; Fairfield ; Abbotsford ; Bradford ; Brockville ; Halfway Bush ; Helensburgh . (clockwise from the city centre, starting at due north) Waitati ; Waikouaiti ; Karitane ; Seacliff ; Warrington ; Pūrākaunui ; Long Beach ; Aramoana ; Otakou ; Mosgiel; Brighton; Taieri Mouth ; Henley ; Allanton ; East Taieri ; Momona ; Outram ; West Taieri ; Waipori ; Middlemarch ; Hyde . Since local council reorganisation in
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3276-419: The city has long been considered one of New Zealand's four main centres. The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago, surrounding the head of Otago Harbour . The harbour and hills around Dunedin are the remnants of an extinct volcano. The city suburbs extend out into the surrounding valleys and hills, onto the isthmus of the Otago Peninsula , and along the shores of the Otago Harbour and
3354-533: The city's economy remains centred around tertiary education , with students from the University of Otago , New Zealand's oldest university , and the Otago Polytechnic , accounting for a large proportion of the population; 21.6 per cent of the city's population was aged between 15 and 24 at the 2006 census, compared to the New Zealand average of 14.2 per cent. Dunedin is also noted for its vibrant music scene, as
3432-518: The city. During the 1980s Dunedin's popular music scene blossomed, with many acts, such as The Chills , The Clean , The Verlaines and Straitjacket Fits , gaining national and international recognition. The term "The Dunedin sound " was coined to describe the 1960s-influenced, guitar-led music which flourished at the time. Bands and musicians are still playing and recording in many styles. By 1990, population decline had steadied and slow growth has occurred since and Dunedin re-invented itself as
3510-544: The current length was thought to be possible. To the southwestern side of the township extend expansive salty mudflats from the head of the Aramoana Spit around the harbourside to the township of Te Ngaru. This area is a protected Wildlife Sanctuary, which hosts a range of plant and animal life, both native and exotic. On the other side of the Spit is an expanse of beach, truncated by the Aramoana Mole. The beach and sand dunes to
3588-541: The discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully , to the south-west, led to a rapid influx of people and saw Dunedin become New Zealand's first city by growth of population in 1865. The new arrivals included many Irish, but also Italians, Lebanese, French, Germans, Jews and Chinese. The Dunedin Southern Cemetery was established in 1858, the Dunedin Northern Cemetery in 1872. In the 1860s, Ross Creek Reservoir
3666-413: The east are known as Shelly Beach. The beach to the west is known as Big Beach and extends for over two kilometres. At points along this beach, steep rockfaces come down to the waterline. These are well used for practical training by local rock-climbers. Seals can be found sun bathing on the rocks of the spit. Enthusiastic Land yachters use this beach, especially in the favourable Nor’Easter winds. Aramoana
3744-568: The fourth 'main centre'. A generation reacting against Victorianism started demolishing its buildings and many were lost, notably William Mason 's Stock exchange in 1969. ( Dunedin Stock Exchange building ) Although the university continued to expand, the city's population contracted, notably from 1976 to 1981. This was a culturally vibrant time with the university's new privately endowed arts fellowships bringing writers including James K Baxter , Ralph Hotere , Janet Frame and Hone Tuwhare to
3822-498: The incorporated city. Dunedin's population and wealth boomed during the 1860s' Otago gold rush , and for a brief period of time it became New Zealand's largest urban area. The city saw substantial migration from mainland China at the same time, predominately from Guangdong and Guangxi . Dunedin is home to New Zealand's oldest Chinese community . Today Dunedin has a diverse economy which includes manufacturing, publishing, arts, tourism and technology-based industries. The mainstay of
3900-485: The late 1980s, these are suburbs, but are not commonly regarded as such. The climate of Dunedin in general is temperate. Under the Köppen climate classification , Dunedin features an oceanic climate . This leads to mild summers and coolish winters. Winter is not particularly frosty with around 49 frosts per year, lower than most other South Island locations, but sunny. Snowfall is not particularly common and significant snowfall
3978-533: The longest-standing European-settled territories in New Zealand. Early in 1844, the Deborah , captained by Thomas Wing and carrying (among others) his wife Lucy and a representative of the New Zealand Company , Frederick Tuckett , sailed south from Nelson to determine the location of a planned Free Church settlement. After inspecting several areas around the eastern coast of the South Island, Tuckett selected
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#17328586024064056-548: The low-lying flats and nearby hills and across the isthmus to the slopes of the Otago Peninsula . Eastern Otago is tectonically stable, meaning that it does not experience many earthquakes. One of the only known faults near Dunedin is the Akatore Fault . The first earthquake to cause widespread damage in Dunedin since its founding was the 1974 Dunedin earthquake, which had a magnitude of 4.9 and caused about $ 3.5 million in damages (2024 terms). The central region of Dunedin
4134-403: The main streets of George Street and Princes Street meeting at The Octagon. Here they are joined by Stuart Street , which runs orthogonally to them, from the Dunedin Railway Station in the southeast, and steeply up to the suburb of Roslyn in the northwest. Many of the city's notable old buildings are located in the southern part of this area and on the inner ring of lower hills which surround
4212-663: The mid-1890s, the economy revived. Institutions such as the Otago Settlers Museum (now renamed as Toitū Otago Settlers Museum ) and the Hocken Collections —the first of their kind in New Zealand—were founded. More notable buildings such as the Railway Station and Olveston were erected. New energy in the visual arts represented by G. P. Nerli culminated in the career of Frances Hodgkins . By 1900, Dunedin
4290-473: The north of the city's urban area is undulating hill country containing several small, mainly coastal, settlements, including Waitati , Warrington , Seacliff , and Waikouaiti . State Highway 1 winds steeply through a series of hills here, notably The Kilmog . These hills can be considered a coastal extension of the Silverpeaks Range. To the east of Dunedin lies the entirety of the Otago Peninsula ,
4368-510: The north of the present-day city of Dunedin, has been dated from about that time. There are numerous archaic ( moa -hunter) sites in what is now Dunedin, several of them large and permanently occupied, particularly in the 14th century. The population contracted but expanded again with the evolution of the Classic Māori culture which saw the building of several pā , fortified settlements, notably Pukekura at ( Taiaroa Head ), about 1650. There
4446-430: The northwest . The circle of hills surrounding the inner city shelters the inner city from much of the prevailing weather, while hills just to the west of the city can often push inclement weather around to the west of the city. Inland, beyond the heart of the city and into inland Otago, the climate is sub-continental: winters are quite cold and dry, summers warm and dry. Thick freezing ground fogs are common in winter in
4524-558: The opposite side of the harbour. Port Chalmers provides Dunedin's main deep-water port, including the city's container port. The Dunedin skyline is dominated by a ring of (traditionally seven) hills which form the remnants of a volcanic crater . Notable among them are Mount Cargill (700 m [2,300 ft]), Flagstaff (680 m [2,230 ft]), Saddle Hill (480 m [1,570 ft]), Signal Hill (390 m [1,280 ft]), and Harbour Cone (320 m [1,050 ft]). Dunedin's hinterland encompasses
4602-470: The outer suburbs of Green Island and Abbotsford . Between Green Island and Roslyn lies the steep-sided valley of the Kaikorai Stream , which is today a residential and light industrial area. Suburban settlements—mostly regarded as separate townships—also lie along both edges of the Otago Harbour. Notable among these are Portobello and Macandrew Bay , on the Otago Peninsula coast, and Port Chalmers on
4680-812: The peninsula's northeastern point is a site of global ecological significance, as it is home to the world's only mainland breeding colony of royal albatross . (clockwise from the city centre, starting at due north) Woodhaugh ; Glenleith ; Leith Valley ; Dalmore ; Liberton ; Pine Hill ; Normanby ; Mt Mera ; North East Valley ; Opoho ; Dunedin North ; Ravensbourne ; Highcliff ; Shiel Hill ; Challis ; Waverley ; Vauxhall ; Ocean Grove (Tomahawk); Tainui ; Andersons Bay ; Musselburgh ; South Dunedin ; St Kilda ; St Clair ; Corstorphine ; Kew ; Forbury ; Caversham ; Concord ; Maryhill ; Kenmure ; Mornington ; Kaikorai Valley ; City Rise ; Belleknowes ; Roslyn ; Kaikorai ; Wakari ; Maori Hill . (clockwise from
4758-547: The plain, much of this is forested, notably around Berwick and Lake Mahinerangi , and also around the Silverpeaks Range which lies northwest of the Dunedin urban area. Beyond this, the land becomes drier and opens out into grass and tussock -covered land. A high, broad valley, the Strath-Taieri lies in Dunedin's far northwest, containing the town of Middlemarch , one of the area's few concentrations of population. To
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#17328586024064836-550: The site which would become known as Dunedin. (Tuckett rejected the site of what would become Christchurch , as he felt the ground around the Avon River / Ōtākaro was swampy. ) The Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland , through a company called the Otago Association , founded Dunedin at the head of Otago Harbour in 1848 as the principal town of its special settlement. The name "Dunedin" comes from Dùn Èideann ,
4914-688: The south of the city. St Clair Beach is a well-known surfing venue, and the harbour basin is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers . Dunedin has four public swimming pools: Moana Pool , Port Chalmers Pool, Mosgiel and St Clair Salt Water Pool. In February 2021, the East Otago towns of Waikouaiti and Karitane in New Zealand reported high lead levels in their water supplies. Local and national authorities responded by dispatching water tanks to assist local residents and providing free blood tests, fruits and vegetables. The lead poisoning scare also attracted coverage by national media. By early March 2021,
4992-646: The surrounding settlements and rural area. Dunedin City had a population of 128,901 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,646 people (2.1%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 8,652 people (7.2%) since the 2013 census . There were 61,722 males, 66,300 females and 873 people of other genders in 49,920 dwellings. 5.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 37.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 19,056 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 34,455 (26.7%) aged 15 to 29, 53,055 (41.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 22,329 (17.3%) aged 65 or older. Robert Sarkies Sarkies grew up in
5070-459: The title Crime 101 . Sarkies' second feature was drama Out of the Blue based on the 1990 Aramoana Massacre , in which a gunman killed thirteen people in a seaside town close to Dunedin. The film emphasizes realism over melodrama, partly through handheld camerawork and a naturalistic acting style. Some of those living in Aramoana expressed opposition to the film being made; others who lost people in
5148-477: The tragedy agreed to do interviews with scriptwriters Sarkies and Graeme Tetley. In New Zealand, Out of the Blue became the tenth most successful local film yet released theatrically (not accounting for inflation). It also won six Qantas Film and Television Awards in September 2008, including "Best Picture - budget over $ 1 million". As of October 2008, Out of the Blue's rating on critics' website Rotten Tomatoes
5226-564: The upper reaches of the Taieri River 's course around Middlemarch , and in summer, the temperature occasionally reaches 30 °C (86 °F). The Dunedin City territorial authority has a population of 136,000 as of June 2024. This comprises 106,700 people in the Dunedin urban area, 15,150 people in the Mosgiel urban area, 1,580 people in Brighton , 1,330 people in Waikouaiti , and 11,240 people in
5304-556: The vicinity, which led Australian, American and British sealers to visit from the beginning of the 19th century. The early years of sealing saw a feud between sealers and local Māori from 1810 to 1823, the " Sealers' War " sparked by an incident on Otago Harbour. William Tucker became the first European to settle in the area – in 1815. Permanent European occupation dates from 1831, when the Weller brothers of New South Wales founded their whaling station at Otago (present-day Otakou ) on
5382-424: The west, Waikouaiti in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east and south-east, and the Waipori/Taieri River and the township of Henley in the south-west. Dunedin is situated at the head of Otago Harbour , a narrow inlet extending south-westward for some 15 miles. The harbour is a recent creation formed by the flooding of two river valleys. From the time of its foundation in 1848, the city has spread slowly over
5460-491: Was 91 per cent. Sarkies' third feature was 2012 black comedy Two Little Boys , starring Bret McKenzie and Australian television personality Hamish Blake . The film is based on a book by Duncan Sarkies, about two sometime friends trying to hide the body of a tourist one of them has accidentally killed. Before making Out of the Blue , the Sarkies brothers collaborated on the script for a proposed fantasy film called The Magnificent Magic Fingers . The budget for Magic Fingers
5538-420: Was a settlement in what is now central Dunedin (Ōtepoti), occupied as late as about 1785 but abandoned by 1826. There were also Māori settlements at Whareakeake (Murdering Beach), Pūrākaunui , Mapoutahi (Goat Island Peninsula) and Huriawa ( Karitane Peninsula) to the north, and at Taieri Mouth and Otokia ( Henley ) to the south, all inside the present boundaries of Dunedin. Māori tradition tells first of
5616-542: Was also a leading firm, as was H. E. Shacklock , an iron founder and appliance manufacturer later taken over by the Auckland concern Fisher and Paykel . The Mosgiel Woollens was another Victorian Dunedin foundation. Hallensteins was the colloquial name of a menswear manufacturer and national retail chain, while the DIC and Arthur Barnett were department stores, the former a nationwide concern. Coulls, Somerville Wilkie—later part of
5694-536: Was among these new foundations. It had been actively promulgated by artist William Mathew Hodgkins . There was also a remarkable architectural flowering producing many substantial and ornamental buildings. R. A. Lawson 's First Church of Otago and Knox Church are notable examples, as are buildings by Maxwell Bury and F. W. Petre . The other visual arts also flourished under the leadership of W. M. Hodgkins . The city's landscape and burgeoning townscape were vividly portrayed by George O'Brien (1821–1888). From
5772-485: Was created so as to serve Dunedin's need for water. The London-owned Bank of Otago opened its doors in Dunedin in 1863, opened 12 branches throughout its region, then in 1873 merged with the new National Bank of New Zealand also based in London and also operated from Dunedin but, true to its name, it rapidly expanded throughout New Zealand. Dunedin remained the principal local source of the nation's development capital until
5850-403: Was estimated to be at least NZ$ 20 million. It is unknown whether Magic Fingers is still in development or not. In 2010, dystopian TV series This Is Not My Life debuted on New Zealand Television. The series centres around a man (played by Charles Mesure ) who wakes up with no knowledge of the woman he appears to be married to, his children or job. Directed by Sarkies and Peter Salmon, it won
5928-403: Was formed in 1974 to oppose the smelter. Among the leaders were three Otago psychologists: Peter Bradshaw, Jules Older and Richard Thomson. A large number of Otago artists and performers also contributed to the successful drive to save Aramoana. Aramoana gained notoriety as the site of a mass murder that occurred on 13 and 14 November 1990. Resident David Gray, an unemployed gun collector, went on
6006-451: Was no longer the country's biggest city. Influence and activity moved north to the other centres ("the drift north"), a trend which continued for much of the following century. Despite this, the university continued to expand, and a student quarter became established. At the same time, people started to notice Dunedin's mellowing, the ageing of its grand old buildings, with writers like E. H. McCormick pointing out its atmospheric charm. In 1901
6084-438: Was that 51 (53.1%) people were employed full-time, 12 (12.5%) were part-time, and 3 (3.1%) were unemployed. In the late 1970s Aramoana was proposed as the site of a major aluminium smelter by a consortium of New Zealand-based Fletcher Challenge , Australia's CSR Limited and Swiss firm Alusuisse . An aluminium smelter was already operating at Tiwai Point when the smelter at Aramoana was proposed. The Save Aramoana Campaign
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