84-567: 45°22′S 170°39′E / 45.367°S 170.650°E / -45.367; 170.650 Mākareao is a lightly populated rural locality in the Otago region of New Zealand 's South Island . To the west is Dunback and to the south is Inch Valley and the nearest significantly populated town, Palmerston . As with the surrounding area, agriculture is an important economic activity. Deposits of lime are also located in Mākareao and accordingly
168-439: A Labour stronghold. Since 2008 the rest of Otago has been divided between the large rural electorates of Waitaki , which also includes some of the neighbouring Canterbury Region , and Clutha-Southland , which also includes most of the rural part of the neighbouring Southland Region. The Waitaki electorate has traditionally been a National Party stronghold and is currently held by Miles Anderson . The Southland electorate, also
252-635: A National Party stronghold, is currently represented by Joseph Mooney . The earlier Otago electorate existed from 1978 to 2008, when it was split and merged into Waitaki and Clutha-Southland. Two list MPs are based in Dunedin – Michael Woodhouse of the National Party and Rachel Brooking of the Labour Party. One-time Labour Party Deputy Leader David Parker is a former MP for the Otago electorate and currently
336-497: A Presbyterian girls' and boys' school in the city. Unlike other major cities in New Zealand, Dunedin does not have any private intermediate or high schools, as all remaining private intermediate and high schools have been integrated into the state system. 45°52′50″S 170°29′46″E / 45.88056°S 170.49611°E / -45.88056; 170.49611 Queenstown, New Zealand Queenstown ( Māori : Tāhuna )
420-562: A building boom in 2022, Stuff reported that 27% of homes in the Lakes District were unoccupied since their owners preferred to use them as holiday homes or short-term accommodation rather than rentals By November 2022, Radio New Zealand reported that the average home in the Lakes District cost NZ$ 1.7 million while a three-bedroom rental cost a minimum of NZ$ 800 per week and a single bedroom rental NZ$ 500 or more per week. In October 2022, Environment Minister David Parker confirmed that
504-421: A high incidence of feldspar . Fossils of the late and middle Triassic Warepan and Kaihikuan stages are found in the area. Weather conditions vary enormously across Otago, but can be broken into two broad types: the coastal climate of the coastal regions and the more continental climate of the interior. Coastal regions of Otago are subject to the alternating warm and dry/cool and wet weather patterns common to
588-578: A junction with the Main South Line in Palmerston, but to provide better access to the lime deposits, a sub-branch was built from Inch Valley to Mākareao. Together, the two lines were known as the Dunback and Makareao Branches and the Mākareao portion served solely the limeworks; it did not carry passengers or general freight. It was just under 4 km long and opened on 31 March 1900. The terminus in Mākareao
672-453: A limeworks operates. In 1990, Taylor's Lime opened a new plant at Mākareao replacing one formerly operated at Weston . No major roads pass through Makareao. State Highway 85 passes through Dunback on the other side of the Shag River from Mākareao. From 1900 until 1989, Mākareao was the terminus of a short branch line railway . On 29 August 1885, a branch had been opened to Dunback from
756-524: A list MP. Under the Māori electorates system, Otago is also part of the large Te Tai Tonga electorate, which covers the entire South Island and surrounding islands, and is currently held by Te Pāti Māori Party MP Tākuta Ferris . Three of the 18 Ngāi Tahu Rūnanga (councils) are based in the Otago Region. Each one is centred on a coastal marae, namely Ōtākou , Moeraki and Puketeraki at Karitane . There
840-560: A mixed economy. Dunedin is home to manufacturing, publishing and technology-based industries. Rural economies have been reinvigorated in the 1990s and 2000s: in Clutha district, farms have been converted from sheep to more lucrative dairying. Vineyard planting and production remained modest until the middle of the 1990s when the New Zealand wine industry began to expand rapidly. The Central Otago wine region produces wine made from varieties such as
924-680: A population of 13,539 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,205 people (19.5%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 3,111 people (29.8%) since the 2006 census . There were 4,254 households. There were 7,089 males and 6,447 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female, with 1,341 people (9.9%) aged under 15 years, 4,887 (36.1%) aged 15 to 29, 6,264 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,041 (7.7%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 71.2% European/Pākehā, 4.5% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 17.8% Asian, and 10.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). The proportion of people born overseas
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#17331142422081008-477: A small influx at this time. The early and middle years of the twentieth century saw smaller influxes of immigrants from several mainland European countries, most notably the Netherlands . In line with the region's Scottish heritage, Presbyterianism is the largest Christian denomination with 17.1 percent affiliating, while Catholicism is the second-largest denomination with 11.5 percent affiliating. The seat of
1092-440: A special character based on a religious or philosophical belief that has been integrated into the state system, but still charge "attendance dues" to cover the building and maintenance of school buildings. These schools are not owned by the government, but otherwise they like state schools cannot charge fees for tuition of domestic students but may request a donation. As Dunedin was founded by Presbyterian Scottish settlers there are
1176-497: Is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island . It is the seat and largest town in the Queenstown-Lakes District . The town located on the northwestern edge of Lake Wakatipu , a long, thin, Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has views of nearby mountains such as The Remarkables , Cecil Peak , Walter Peak and just above the town, Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill . Queenstown
1260-443: Is a 13 percent chance that the lake will reach this level, and a 75 percent chance of at least one event that exceeds this level in a 10 year period. Queenstown is described by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area with an area of 86.61 km (33.44 sq mi). It had an urban population of 27,700 (June 2024), making it the 24th-largest urban area in New Zealand. In 2016, Queenstown overtook Oamaru to become
1344-463: Is a major centre for snow sports in New Zealand, with four main mountain ski fields: Cardrona Alpine Resort , Coronet Peak , The Remarkables and Treble Cone . Cross country skiing is also available at the Waiorau Snow Farm , near Cardrona village. A heritage steamship, the twin screw coal fired steamer TSS Earnslaw operates on Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown lies close to the centre of
1428-614: Is also the Arai Te Uru Marae in Dunedin. The subnational gross domestic product (GDP) of Otago was estimated at NZ$ 14.18 billion in the year to March 2020, 4.38% of New Zealand's national GDP. The regional GDP per capita was estimated at $ 58,353 in the same period. In the year to March 2018, primary industries contributed $ 1.25 billion (9.8%) to the regional GDP, goods-producing industries contributed $ 2.38 billion (18.6%), service industries contributed $ 8.05 billion (63.0%), and taxes and duties contributed $ 1.10 billion (8.6%). Otago has
1512-474: Is known for its tourism businesses, especially adventure and ski tourism. Tāhuna , the te reo name for Queenstown, means 'shallow bay'. There are various apocryphal accounts of how Queenstown gained its name, of which the following appears to be the most likely: When William Rees first arrived in the area and built his homestead, the area was known as The Station although miners soon referred to it as The Camp from 1860 to 1862. The miners, and especially
1596-542: Is no permanent snow cover during the year. As with the rest of Central Otago , Queenstown lies within the rain shadow of the Southern Alps , but being closer to the west coast the town is more susceptible to rain-bearing fronts than nearby Cromwell , Wānaka and Alexandra . The hottest recorded temperature in Queenstown is 35.2 °C (95 °F) and the coldest is −8.4 °C (17 °F), while for Queenstown Airport
1680-399: Is part of the reason why Central Otago vineyards are successful in this region. This inland region is one of the driest regions in the country, sheltered from prevailing rain-bearing weather conditions by the high mountains to the west and hills of the south. Summers can be hot, with temperatures often approaching or exceeding 30 degrees Celsius; winters, by contrast, are often bitterly cold –
1764-571: Is situated on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, the third largest lake by surface area in New Zealand. The town is located close to the lake's northeastern bend, at which point a small arm, the Frankton Arm , joins the lake with its principal outflow, the Kawarau River . The centre of the town is on the north shore at the point where the Frankton Arm links with the main body of the lake, but also extends to
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#17331142422081848-661: Is the largest winter pride event in the Southern Hemisphere. Jane Campion 's six-part drama mystery Top of the Lake was shot during 2012 for pay TV release in 2013. The lakes of the Wakatipu appear ominous, and the Southern Alps spectacular. The main location is Moke Lake and scenes were shot on Lower Beach Street and Coronation Drive, and at a supermarket and bottle store on Shotover Street. In 2010, Cycle 14 of America's Next Top Model , was, in part filmed in Queenstown and
1932-471: The 2023 general election , Southland is represented by Joseph Mooney ( National ) and Te Tai Tonga is represented by Tākuta Ferris ( Te Pāti Māori ). Tourism is a large component of the Queenstown economy, particularly outdoor and adventure tourism activities including skiing and snowboarding , jet boating , whitewater rafting , bungy jumping , mountain biking , skateboarding , tramping , paragliding , sky diving and fly fishing . Queenstown
2016-654: The Mataura River in September 1853. Evidence of stake nets, baskets for catching eels, spears and ashes indicated the Glenorchy area was visited by Māori. It is likely Ngāi Tahu Māori visited Queenstown en route to collect Pounamu (greenstone). A settlement called Te Kirikiri Pa was occupied by the tribe of Kāti Māmoe which was situated where the Queenstown Gardens are today, but by the time European migrants arrived in
2100-549: The Ngāi Tahu iwi or tribe. Other significant ethnic minorities include Asians, Pacific Islanders, Africans, Latin Americans and Middle Easterners. Otago's early waves of settlement, especially during and immediately after the gold rush of the 1860s, included a substantial minority of southern ( Guangdong ) Chinese settlers, and a smaller but also prominent number of people from Lebanon . The region's Jewish population also experienced
2184-539: The Pinot noir , Chardonnay , Sauvignon blanc , Merlot and Riesling grapes. It has an increasing reputation as New Zealand's leading Pinot noir region. Otago has numerous rural primary schools, several small town primary and secondary schools, and some larger schools in Dunedin . Most are state schools which do not charge tuition, except for international students. Some are state integrated schools, former private schools with
2268-576: The University of Otago , was founded in 1869 as the provincial university in Dunedin. The Province of Southland separated from Otago Province and set up its own Provincial Council at Invercargill in 1861. After difficulties ensued, Otago re-absorbed it in 1870. Its territory is included in the southern region of the old Otago Province which is named after it and is now the territory of the Southland region. The provincial governments were abolished in 1876 when
2352-573: The 1860s this settlement was no longer being used. European explorers William Gilbert Rees and Nicholas von Tunzelmann were the first non-Māori to settle the area. Rees established a high country farm in the location of Queenstown's current town centre in 1860, but the discovery of gold in the Arrow River in 1862 encouraged Rees to convert his wool shed into a hotel named the Queen's Arms, now known as Eichardt's . Many Queenstown streets bear names from
2436-559: The Abolition of the Provinces Act came into force on 1 November 1876, and were replaced by other forms of local authority, including counties. Two in Otago were named after the Scottish independence heroes Wallace and Bruce . From this time the national limelight gradually shifted northwards. Otago's flag was chosen from a 2004 competition. It was designed by Gregor Macauly. Beginning in
2520-650: The Irish, had taken an interest in the ceremony held for a town called Cobh in Ireland (then part of the United Kingdom) which was renamed Queenstown in honour of Queen Victoria in 1850. There was then a public meeting to name the township on the lake in January 1863 (probably the weekend of the 3rd and 4th) in which the town was officially given the name of Queenstown in reference to Ireland's Queenstown . By 9–10 January 1863,
2604-486: The Kiwi Park wildlife sanctuary, and Paradise is a nearby rural location known for its paradise duck population ( Tadorna variegata ). The Queenstown Trail and Skippers Road are popular walking, running, and mountain-biking tracks. Queenstown has many festivals. Examples include the ten-day Bike Festival held in January, Winter Festival (June), Jazz Festival (October), and Winter Pride (August–September) which
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2688-643: The Lake Wakatipu basin one of only three areas in New Zealand where shops may open on Good Friday (the other two are Picton and Paihia ). Queenstown lies in the Queenstown-Lakes District territorial authority . It is also part of the Otago region , administered by the Otago Regional Council . For the New Zealand Parliament , Queenstown is covered by one general electorate , Southland , and one Maori electorate , Te Tai Tonga . As of
2772-860: The Murihiku terrane , an accretion which extends inland through the Hokonui Hills in the Southland region. This itself forms part of a larger system known as the Southland Syncline , which links to similar formations in Nelson (offset by the Alpine Fault ) and even in New Caledonia , 3,500 km (2,200 mi) away. The Catlins ranges are strike ridges composed of Triassic and Jurassic sandstones , mudstones and other related sedimentary rocks, often with
2856-533: The New Zealand Government had fast-tracked the Te Pūtahi project at Lake Hayes Estate to build 748 more homes, a public transport area, and a possible school. By early 2023, Stuff, Radio New Zealand, and The New Zealand Herald reported that a shortage of rental housing had forced many workers and businesspeople to sleep in cars, couches, tents, visitor hostels, and others to leave the town. In addition,
2940-617: The Otago Regional Council is in Dunedin. The council is chaired by Andrew Noone as of July 2021 . There are five territorial authorities in Otago: Otago is represented by four parliamentary electorates . Dunedin and nearby towns are represented by the Dunedin electorate, held by Rachel Brooking , and the Taieri electorate, occupied by Ingrid Leary . Both MPs are members of the Labour Party, and Dunedin has traditionally been
3024-616: The Queenstown area is expensive due to factors such as the town being a tourist destination, its lack of land and its desirability to foreigners and investors. Queenstown is rated the least affordable place in New Zealand to buy a property, overtaking Auckland at the start of 2017. In December 2016 the average house price in the Queenstown area rose to $ 1 million NZD . Between 2016 and 2019, average rents in Queenstown rose progressively; reaching 10.8% in 2016, 16% in 2017, and 7.4% in 2018, and 9.6% in 2019. 2018 census data showed 27 percent of Queenstown homes were marked as unoccupied. During
3108-587: The Shotover River – a major tributary. There is also a narrow gorge that restricts flow in the Kawarau river. As a consequence, Queenstown has been flooded several times since its establishment, and there is an on-going risk of flooding in low-lying areas. As the lake level rises, backflow through the town's stormwater system leads to flooding in some Queenstown streets when the lake level reaches 311.3 m. This has occurred around 20 times since 1878. In any one year, there
3192-512: The areas of: Arrowtown , Closeburn , Dalefield, Gibbston , Jack's Point , Hanley's Farm , Hayes Creek , Lake Hayes Estate , Shotover Country and Quail Rise . Because of its relatively moderate altitude (310 metres) and high mountain surroundings, Queenstown has an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ). Summer has long warm days with temperatures that can reach 30 °C while winters are cold with temperatures often in single digits with frequent snowfall , although there
3276-608: The block mountains impede and dilute the effects of the Nor'wester . The main Central Otago centres, such as Alexandra and Cromwell , are found in the intermontane basins between the block mountains. The schist bedrock influence extends to the eastern part of Otago, where remnant volcanics mark its edge. The remains of the most spectacular of these are the Miocene volcanics centred on Otago Harbour . Elsewhere, basalt outcrops can be found along
3360-586: The broad high valley of the Strath-Taieri in its upper reaches, and the fertile Taieri Plains as it approaches the ocean. Travelling east from the mountains, the Central Otago drylands predominate. These are Canterbury-Otago tussock grasslands dominated by the block mountains, upthrust schist mountains. In contrast to Canterbury, where the Northwest winds blow across the plains without interruption, in Otago
3444-425: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 40,458 (19.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 106,080 (52.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 43,974 (21.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 39,100, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 19,692 people (9.7%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
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3528-619: The coast and at other sites. Comparatively similar terrain exists in the high plateau land of the Maniototo Plain , which lies to the east of Central Otago, close to the upper reaches of the Taieri River. This area is sparsely populated, but of historical note for its importance during the Otago gold rush of the 1860s. The townships of Ranfurly and Naseby lie in this area. In the southeastern corner of Otago lies The Catlins , an area of rough hill country which geologically forms part of
3612-462: The country from the southwest. A common variant in this pattern is the centring of a stationary low-pressure zone to the southeast of the country, resulting in long-lasting cool, wet conditions. These have been responsible for several notable historical floods, such as the "hundred year floods" of October 1878 and October 1978. Typically, winters are cool and wet in the extreme south areas and snow can fall and settle to sea level in winter, especially in
3696-447: The country's hydroelectric power. Vineyards and wineries have been developed in the Central Otago wine region . Some parts of the area originally covered by Otago Province are now administered by either Canterbury Regional Council or Southland Regional Council . Like the rest of mainland New Zealand, Otago was first settled by the Māori people . Most of the Māori settlement in Otago
3780-529: The early 2020s, Queenstown experienced a decline in rental housing. Between December 2021 and December 2022, the online auction platform Trade Me reported a 49% decline in rental listings across the Queenstown-Lakes District . Similarly, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) reported that the number of rental houses in the District had dropped by 100 between November 2021 and November 2022. Despite
3864-533: The entrance to Otago Harbour . The exact meaning of the term is disputed, with common translations being "isolated village" and "place of red earth", the latter referring to the reddish-ochre clay which is common in the area around Dunedin . "Otago" is also the old name of the European settlement on the harbour, established by the Weller Brothers in 1831, which lies close to Otakou . The upper harbour later became
3948-620: The focus of the Otago Association , an offshoot of the Free Church of Scotland , notable for its adoption of the principle that ordinary people, not the landowner, should choose the ministers. Major centres include Dunedin (the principal city), Oamaru , Balclutha , Alexandra , and the major tourist centres Queenstown and Wānaka . Kaitangata in South Otago is a prominent source of coal . The Waitaki and Clutha rivers provide much of
4032-569: The gold mining era (such as Camp Street) and some historic buildings remain. William's Cottage, the Lake Lodge of Ophir (now Artbay Gallery), Queenstown Police Station , and St Peter's Anglican Church lie close together in a designated historic precinct. There was a severe weather event in the South Island in November 1999, bringing torrential rainfall in the catchments of Lake Wakatipu. The level of
4116-412: The hills and plains of South Otago . More Central and Northern Coastal areas winter is sunnier and drier. Summers, by contrast, tend to be warm and dry, with temperatures often reaching the high 20s and low 30s Celsius. In Central Otago cold frosty winters are succeeded by hot dry summers. Central Otago's climate is the closest approximation to a continental climate anywhere in New Zealand. This climate
4200-465: The hottest is 33.4 °C (92 °F) and the coldest is −12.2 °C (10 °F). Low-lying areas of Queenstown that are close to Lake Wakatipu are at risk of flooding because during heavy rain and snowmelt, the outflows of the lake via the Kawarau River are less than the inflows and the lake level can rise significantly. Further, the outflow down the Kawarau River is impeded by the large delta of
4284-422: The housing shortage had contributed to a worker shortage among local businesses since they had trouble attracting foreign visa workers or those from outside Queenstown. The Herald also reported that some workers in Queenstown were asking local rental agents if they could stay in vacant properties being sold. In late March 2023, 100 people participated in a protest at Queenstown's waterfront to raise awareness of
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#17331142422084368-459: The interannual Southern oscillation . The Southern Hemisphere storm track produces an irregular short cycle of weather which repeats roughly every week, with three or four days of fine weather followed by three or four days of cooler, damp conditions. Drier conditions are often the result of the northwesterly föhn wind, which dries as it crosses the Southern Alps . Wetter air is the result of approaching low-pressure systems which sweep fronts over
4452-574: The interior of Te Waipounamu, digging the freshwater lakes of the island. After digging the lakes Hāwea, Wānaka, and Whakatipu Waimāori, he travelled through the Greenstone and Hollyford valleys before finally digging Whakatipu Waitai (Lake McKerrow) . The first non-Māori to see Lake Wakatipu was European Nathanael Chalmers who was guided by Reko, the chief of the Tuturau, over the Waimea Plains and up
4536-422: The lake rose from 310.5 m to 312.77 m, leading to the most severe flooding in the recorded history of Queenstown. Properties in central Queenstown close to the lakeshore were flooded up to 1 m deep, causing major damage. Total insurance claims were around $ 50 million. Properties in Glenorchy and Kingston were also flooded, and the road from Queenstown to Glenorchy was damaged by washouts. Queenstown
4620-509: The major suburb of Frankton at the eastern end of the arm, and across to Kelvin Heights on the Kelvin Peninsula , which forms the Frankton Arm's southern shore. The town is at a relatively low altitude for a ski and snowboarding centre, at 310 metres (1,020 ft) above sea level at the lake shore, but is nestled among mountains, most notably the scenic attraction of The Remarkables , to
4704-465: The office of provincial Superintendent after the New Zealand provinces were created in 1853. The Otago Province was the whole of New Zealand from the Waitaki River south, including Stewart Island and the sub-Antarctic islands. It included the territory of the later Southland Province and also the much more extensive lands of the modern Southland Region . Initial settlement was concentrated on
4788-462: The population of the Queenstown-Lakes District grew by 60% due to the region's booming tourism industry. Otago had a population of 240,900 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 15,714 people (7.0%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 38,430 people (19.0%) since the 2013 census . There were 118,524 males, 121,185 females and 1,188 people of other genders in 94,425 dwellings. 4.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age
4872-691: The population resides in the Dunedin urban area—the region's main city and the country's sixth largest urban area. For historical and geographical reasons, Dunedin is usually regarded as one of New Zealand's four main centres. Unlike other southern centres, Dunedin's population has not declined since the 1970s, largely due to the presence of the University of Otago – and especially its medical school – which attracts students from all over New Zealand and overseas. Other significant urban centres in Otago with populations over 1,000 include: Queenstown , Oamaru , Wānaka , Port Chalmers , Cromwell , Alexandra , Balclutha , Milton and Mosgiel . Between 1996 and 2006,
4956-458: The port and city, then expanded, notably to the south-west, where the fertile Taieri Plains offered good farmland. The 1860s saw rapid commercial expansion after Gabriel Read discovered gold at Gabriel's Gully near Lawrence , and the Otago gold rush ensued. Veterans of goldfields in California and Australia, plus many other fortune-seekers from Europe, North America and China, poured into
5040-410: The reason for the line's existence disappeared. The line was formally closed on 1 June 1989, but railway remnants remain at the Mākareao terminus and the line's disused formation can still be seen between Mākareao and Inch Valley. Otago Otago ( / ə ˈ t ɑː ɡ oʊ / , / oʊ -, ɒ -/ ; Māori : Ōtākou [ɔːˈtaːkou] ) is a region of New Zealand located in
5124-511: The region's current official boundaries put much of that river's catchment in Canterbury . The country's fourth-longest river, the Taieri , also has both its source and outflow in Otago, rising from rough hill country and following a broad horseshoe-shaped path, north, then east, and finally southeast, before reaching the Pacific Ocean. Along its course it forms two notable geographic features –
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#17331142422085208-429: The resort town's acute rental housing shortage. The protest was attended by National Party Southland electorate Member of Parliament Joseph Mooney and Queenstown Lakes District Councillor Craig Ferguson. The area’s growth rate is one of the fastest in the country with the population growing 7.1% from 2015 to 2016 in a 12-month period. Most jobs in Queenstown are tourism- or accommodation-related. Employment growth
5292-576: The same year. Queenstown was also used to film most of the 1988 The Rescue . Queenstown was the base for filming the George Lucas 1988 fantasy film Willow . Filming of the 1981 film Race for the Yankee Zephyr took place in and around Queenstown, the first major motion picture production for the area. A 1989 TV Commercial for the Toyota Hilux starring Barry Crump and Lloyd Scott in which
5376-427: The second-largest urban area in Otago , behind Dunedin . Prior to 2023, the Queenstown urban area as defined by Statistics New Zealand didn't include Lake Hayes or Arthurs Point , which are contiguous with Queenstown but were designated as separate urban areas. Before the 2023 census, the town had a smaller boundary, covering 28.40 km (10.97 sq mi). Using that boundary, the Queenstown urban area had
5460-406: The sources of the Clutha / Matau-au, the largest river (by discharge) in New Zealand. The Clutha flows generally to the southeast through Otago and discharges near Balclutha . The river has been used for hydroelectric power generation, with large dams at Clyde and Roxburgh . The traditional northern boundary of the region, the Waitaki River , is also heavily utilised for hydroelectricity, though
5544-502: The southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council . It has an area of approximately 32,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi), making it the country's second largest local government region. Its population was 257,200 in June 2024. The name "Otago" is the local southern Māori dialect pronunciation of " Ōtākou ", the name of the Māori village near
5628-518: The then Province of Otago, eroding its Scottish Presbyterian character. Further gold discoveries at Clyde and on the Arrow River around Arrowtown led to a boom, and Otago became for a period the cultural and economic centre of New Zealand. New Zealand's first daily newspaper, the Otago Daily Times , originally edited by Julius Vogel , dates from this period. New Zealand's first university,
5712-442: The town was being reported with the name of Queenstown in several reports written by a correspondent in the Otago Witness on 5 and 6 January. The area was discovered and first settled by Māori . Kāi Tahu say that the lake was dug by the Waitaha ancestor, Rākaihautū, with his kō (digging stick) named Tūwhakaroria. After arriving at Whakatū Nelson in the waka Uruao, Rākaihautū divided his crew into two. He led one group through
5796-497: The town's southeast. Below the lake lies the deep Kawarau Gorge , and there are nearby plains suitable for agriculture and viticulture . Queenstown lies close to the heart of the Central Otago wine region . Central Queenstown contains many businesses, apartments and homes but is near many suburbs or large areas of housing: Fernhill , Sunshine Bay , Queenstown Hill , Goldfield Heights , Marina Heights , Kelvin Heights , Arthurs Point and Frankton . Just outside Queenstown are
5880-414: The township of Ranfurly in Central Otago holds the New Zealand record for lowest temperature with a reading of −25.6 °C on 18 July 1903. Otago Region covers 31,186.16 km (12,041.04 sq mi). The population is 257,200 as of June 2024, which is approximately 4.8 percent of New Zealand's total population of 5.3 million. The population density is 8.2 people per km . About 41.5 percent of
5964-413: The two drive off the cliff was filmed at nearby Queenstown Hill . The first and last episodes of the fifth season of The Mole were filmed in Queenstown. The 2017 Filipino drama film Northern Lights was shot entirely on location in Queenstown substituting for the setting of Alaska . In 2017 the Korean variety show Running Man shot an episode in Queenstown, where Haha and Yang-Se Chan took
6048-679: The west, the geography of Otago consists of high alpine mountains. The highest peak in Otago (and highest outside the Aoraki / Mount Cook area) is Mount Aspiring / Tititea , which is on the Main Divide . From the high mountains the rivers discharge into large glacial lakes. In this part of Otago glacial activity – both recent and very old – dominates the landscape, with large U-shaped valleys and rivers which have high sediment loads. River flows also vary dramatically, with large flood flows occurring after heavy rain. Lakes Wakatipu , Wānaka , and Hāwea form
6132-477: The world's southernmost wine region, the Central Otago wine region , which has a growing international reputation for its quality Pinot Noir . The Two Paddocks vineyard is owned by internationally known New Zealand actor Sam Neill , and neighbouring, historic Arrowtown features restaurants and bars. Other tourist activities include Ben Lomond , a nearby mountain with a panoramic outlook on Bob's Peak, and its Skyline Queenstown gondola . Queenstown hosts
6216-453: The year except Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and before 12 noon on Anzac Day (at the time, shops in New Zealand were required to close on Sundays and public holidays). The exemption was extended in 1990 allow shops to open on Easter Sunday. The exemption applies to all shops within a 35-kilometre (22 mi) radius of the intersection of Camp Street and Ballarat Street (the location of the Queenstown post office in 1986), and makes Queenstown and
6300-561: Was 38.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 37,749 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 53,532 (22.2%) aged 15 to 29, 106,926 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 42,690 (17.7%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.2% European ( Pākehā ); 9.9% Māori ; 3.4% Pasifika ; 8.5% Asian ; 2.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
6384-483: Was 58.3%, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.5% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, 2.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 1.7% were Buddhist and 3.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 3,234 (26.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 759 (6.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,692 people (13.9%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
6468-451: Was a modest affair, with just loading bins for the lime and a loop to hold 26 wagons. On 1 January 1968, the Dunback portion of the branch closed and the 11 km section between Palmerston and Inch Valley operated solely to carry Mākareao lime. The demise of the line was sudden. Trains ran thrice weekly to carry the lime to a Dunedin -based cement factory, and when this factory closed in 1988,
6552-529: Was also the highest of any area in New Zealand at 10.3% in the March 2016 year. Queenstown has a tourist-focused shopping area, centred around the Queenstown Mall. The public pedestrian street opened in 1990, and includes Reading Cinemas . O'Connells Shopping Centre also opened in 1990, and is due to undergo an upgrade in 2021. In 1986, Queenstown was granted an exemption to allow shops to open every day of
6636-576: Was as won by Krista White . Raina Hein was runner-up. Queenstown and the surrounding area contain many locations used in the filming of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . Locations used include Paradise near Glenorchy , at the head of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown became popular in South Asia after the release of Bollywood blockbuster Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai , which was partially shot there. Starring sensational debuts by Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel it
6720-557: Was spoken by 97.5%, Māori language by 1.9%, Samoan by 0.6% and other languages by 11.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.8, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 28.4% Christian , 1.0% Hindu , 0.8% Islam , 0.2% Māori religious beliefs , 0.7% Buddhist , 0.5% New Age , 0.1% Jewish , and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.3%, and 6.6% of people did not answer
6804-413: Was that 101,514 (50.0%) people were employed full-time, 31,086 (15.3%) were part-time, and 4,848 (2.4%) were unemployed. The majority of the population of European lineage is of Scottish stock—the descendants of early Scottish settlers from the early 19th century. Other well-represented European groups include those of English, Irish, and Dutch descent. A large proportion of the Māori population are from
6888-487: Was that 9,165 (75.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,263 (10.4%) were part-time, and 138 (1.1%) were unemployed. The economy of Queenstown is a major contributor to the economy of the Queenstown Lakes District, although the district covers a much wider area than Queenstown, and includes the towns of Wānaka to the north-east, Glenorchy to the north-west and Kingston to the south. Residential housing in
6972-430: Was this film that opened the doors for both tourists and filmmakers from India to New Zealand with Queenstown being the most sought-after destination. Queenstown featured for 17 minutes in I Hate Luv Storys , a 2010 Bollywood romantic comedy. Queenstown and the surrounding areas were also used in the 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine film. Mee-Shee: The Water Giant was shot in Queenstown in 2005, and released to DVD in
7056-750: Was upon the coast and centred around the Otago Peninsula . The Otago settlement, an outgrowth of the Free Church of Scotland , was founded in March 1848 with the arrival of the first two immigrant ships from Greenock on the Firth of Clyde — the John Wickliffe and the Philip Laing . Captain William Cargill , a veteran of the Peninsular War , was the secular leader. Otago citizens subsequently elected him to
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