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55-686: Pukeuri is a settlement to the north of Oamaru in the North Otago region of New Zealand's South Island . It is located near the coast in the Waitaki District that straddles the border of Otago and Canterbury . The settlement's major employer is the Alliance abattoir , which is North Otago's biggest employer. A large fire in January 2006 came at the height of the killing season and caused significant disruptions for both workers and customers. Pukeuri

110-693: A book binder. Many of the buildings in this area close to the harbour used to serve as commercial warehouses and stores and now provide large spaces for galleries such as the Forrester Gallery, the Grainstore Gallery, The Libratory , and Steampunk HQ . Even the playgrounds in the harbour area continue the Victorian/industrial steam theme with a giant penny-farthing structure supporting the swings, and several steampunk -styled playground features. North Otago Prominent rivers include

165-468: A major port. A boost was given by public works, including harbour development, and an export trade in wool and grain from the 1860s. Following the loss of a number of vessels off the coast, construction of a breakwater designed by engineer John McGregor started in 1871. The building of this breakwater was influential in the development of new forms of crane . For many years there was a commercial and fishing harbour under Cape Wanbrow at Friendly Bay. With

220-588: A perpendicular rocky cliff next to the sea." Māori did live in the area, and sealers visited the coast in 1814. The Creed manuscript , discovered in 2003, records: Some of the [local] people [had been] absent on a feasting expedition to meet a great party from Taumutu, Akaroa, Orawenua [Arowhenua]. They were returning. The [sealers'] boat passed on to the Bluff 8 miles [13 km] north of Moeraki where they landed & arranged their boat – & lay down to sleep in their boat. At night Pukuheke, father of Te More, went to

275-465: A poet and patron of artists; Douglas Lilburn (1915–2001), "the elder statesman of New Zealand music"; James Bertram (1910–1993), writer and academic; Denis Blundell , a future Governor-General of New Zealand ; and Ian Milner (1911–1991), the Rector's son, a Czech and English scholar falsely accused of spying for Communism. His father, known as "The Man", died suddenly on 2 December 1944 while speaking at

330-696: A population of 1,389 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 123 people (9.7%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 342 people (32.7%) since the 2006 census . There were 501 households, comprising 708 males and 681 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 40.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 309 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 231 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 636 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (15.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 89.6% European/ Pākehā , 7.3% Māori , 1.1% Pasifika , 5.8% Asian , and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas

385-551: A total population of 23,200. Friendly Bay is a popular recreational area located at the edge of Oamaru Harbour, south of Oamaru's main centre. Just to the north of Oamaru is the substantial Alliance Abattoir at Pukeuri , at a major junction with State Highway 83 , the main route into the Waitaki Valley . This provides a road link to Kurow, Omarama , Otematata and via the Lindis Pass to Queenstown and Wānaka. Oamaru serves as

440-456: Is described by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area, which covers 20.21 km (7.80 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 14,350 as of June 2024, with a population density of 710 people per km . Before the 2023 census, Oamaru had a larger boundary, covering 21.46 km (8.29 sq mi). Using that boundary, Oamaru had a population of 13,107 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 801 people (6.5%) since

495-610: Is home to much of Oamaru's live entertainment and performances. It was restored in 2009. The refurbishment won the Public Architecture category of the 2010 Southern Architecture Awards and the 2011 NZIA Heritage award for Heritage Conservation. Oamaru Opera House is one of the most significant heritage sites in Oamaru, important to the town and nationally to New Zealand. The Waitaki District Library has branches situated in Oamaru, Palmerston, Kurow, Hampden, Omarama, and Otematata (forming

550-488: Is located on Itchen Street and is the home of Oamaru's live theatre productions. Oamaru has a comprehensive range of community sporting facilities for rugby, tennis, swimming, netball, cricket, golf, hockey, and bowls. Centennial Park is Oamaru's major sporting venue, and is the home of North Otago Rugby Football Union and North Otago Cricket . The council also owns and operates the Oamaru Aquatic Centre. Many of

605-526: Is the location of the junction of State Highways 1 and 83 , and it used to be the junction of the Main South Line and Kurow Branch railways as well. The Main South Line still runs through the town, though it no longer caters for passenger traffic. Construction of the branch line began in 1874 and Pukeuri served as the junction until the line's closure in 1983. A plaque next to State Highway 1 to

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660-628: Is the only Olympic gold medalist from Waitaki. He was born in Waimate but grew up in Oamaru and was educated at Waitaki Boys High School. The world first learned of the death of Robert Scott and the members of his team on their return from the ill-fated expedition to the South Pole by way of a cable sent from Oamaru, on 10 February 1913. From 1906 to 1944 Frank Milner (1875–1944) was the headteacher at Waitaki Boys' High School . Notable students include Charles Brasch (1909–1973) at Waitaki (1923–1926),

715-493: The 2006 census . There were 60 households, comprising 90 males and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 38.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 39 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 33 (18.6%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 18 (10.2%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 88.1% European/ Pākehā , 11.9% Māori , and 5.1% Asian . People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer

770-547: The 2013 census , and an increase of 1,077 people (9.0%) since the 2006 census . There were 5,463 households, comprising 6,267 males and 6,840 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female, with 2,328 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 2,016 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 5,439 (41.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 3,324 (25.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 86.9% European/ Pākehā , 8.1% Māori , 6.0% Pasifika , 4.7% Asian , and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas

825-552: The Pacific coast; State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connect it to both cities. With a population of 14,350, Oamaru is the 28th largest urban area in New Zealand, and the third largest in Otago behind Dunedin and Queenstown . The town is the seat of Waitaki District, which includes the surrounding towns of Kurow , Weston , Palmerston , and Hampden , which combined have

880-674: The Shag , the Waianakarua , the Kakanui and the Waitaki . The Kakanui Mountains form the principal cordillera, rising at their highest point, Mount Pisgah , to 1,643 metres (5,390 ft). These are separated from the lower, parallel Horse Range by the upper valleys of the Waianakarua and Shag rivers. The large east-coast town of Oamaru serves as North Otago's main centre. Other towns and settlements in

935-612: The University of York ; and notably former All Blacks rugby union captain Richie McCaw . Fred Allen , an All Black of the 1940s who went on to coach the All Blacks to 14 wins from his 14 tests in the 1960s, was born in Oamaru, though not educated there. Another notable sports person is Gary Robertson , who won gold at the 1972 Olympic Games, Munich, Germany in the NZ Rowing 8. Robertson

990-459: The Country appears barren, nor did we see any signs of inhabitants." He stayed on this part of the coast four days. Sydney Parkinson, the expedition's artist, described what seems to be Cape Wanbrow, in Oamaru. On 20 February he wrote "...we were near the land, which formed an agreeable view to the naked eye. The hills were of a moderate height, having flats that extended from them a long way, bordered by

1045-610: The Middle School. The place and the North Otago landscape made an impression on him. He revisited the area several times as an adult on painting trips. Cartoonist John Kent , who authored the Varoomshka comic strip for The Guardian newspaper in England, hailed from Oamaru. A community of living artists exists , and many dealer galleries have premises in the historic precinct. One of

1100-580: The New Zealand cricket team. Video game designer Dean Hall grew up in Oamaru and attended Waitaki Boys' High School. His interest in mountaineering was fostered while on a geography field trip while studying there, ultimately culminating in him summiting Mount Everest in May 2013. Oamaru contains over 70 buildings registered as Category 1 or 2 Historic Places in the Heritage New Zealand register. Many public buildings use as their construction material

1155-579: The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust as part of a historic precinct. The great palladian St Patrick's Basilica is also a fine example in white Oamaru stone. The Victorian theme has been embraced by local shops and galleries in this part of Oamaru in terms of shop fittings and décor. Further enhancing the "olden days" feel of the precinct are several arts and crafts shops, a transportation museum, an antique furniture shop, and traditional businesses such as book shops, antique clothing shops, and

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1210-590: The Oamaru area in the 1850s. Hugh Robison built and lived in a sod hut by Oamaru Creek in 1853 while establishing his sheep run . J.T. Thomson surveyed the place as a town in 1859, and the Otago Provincial government declared "hundreds" there on 30 November 1860. The town grew as a service-centre for the agricultural/pastoral hinterland between the Kakanui Mountains and the Waitaki River , and rapidly became

1265-575: The Waitaki District Libraries syndicate). Oamaru Public Library began life as the Oamaru Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute in 1878, but by 1973, library services had outgrown the building. A new library building was proposed, situated next-door to the 'old' Athenaeum library, and the new library was officially opened by the Mayor, Mr R.D. Allen on 19 September 1975. Oamaru Repertory Theatre

1320-528: The Waitaki River mouth, lost food baskets at Moeraki beach and ended up wrecked at Matakaea (Shag Point) where it turned into Danger Reef. After the wreck a crew member, Pahihiwitahi, seeking water, discovered the Waitaki River, but on returning south and failing to reach the wreck before dawn he was turned into a hill in the Shag Valley. Modern academics have suggested this tale is an allegorical explanation of

1375-431: The area in 1844, coming overland from Waikouaiti . On 9 January he recorded "Our path to-day was sometimes along the edge of a low cliff, sometimes along the beach, till we approached Oamaru point, where it turned inland, and crossed a low range of hills, from which we looked over an extensive plain … Towards the afternoon, we ascended a range of hills called Pukeuri, separating this plain from another more extensive. The sky

1430-501: The boat, found them asleep & came back to the other Natives south of the Bluff. They went with 100 [men] killing 5 Europeans & eat them. Two of the seven escaped through the darkness of the night & fled as far as Goodwood, Bobby's Head, after being 2 days and nights on the way. Pukuheke's party killed and ate these as well. The Pākehā, a party from the Matilda (Captain Fowler), under

1485-441: The census's question about religious affiliation, 54.2% had no religion, 35.6% were Christian and 1.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (10.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 27 (19.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $ 36,400, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 18 people (13.0%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15

1540-562: The development of pastoralism and the associated frozen-meat industry having its historical origins in New Zealand just south of the town at Totara, Oamaru flourished. Institutions such as the Athenaeum, Chief Post Office and Waitaki Boys' and Waitaki Girls' High Schools sprang up. The locally plentiful limestone ( Oamaru stone ) lent itself to carving and good designers, such as John Lemon (1828–1890), Thomas Forrester (1838–1907) and his son J.M. Forrester (1865–1965), and craftsmen utilised it. By

1595-594: The early streets after British rivers, particularly rivers in the northwest and southeast of the country. The name Oamaru derives from the Māori and can be translated as 'the place of Maru' ( cf. Timaru). The identity of Maru remains open to conjecture. There are some important archaeological sites around Oamaru. Those at the Waitaki River mouth and at Awamoa both date from the Archaic (Moa-hunter) phase of Māori culture , when New Zealand's human population clustered along

1650-666: The early works of Janet Frame , who grew up in the town, reflect Oamaru conditions and Oamaruvians. Other literary associations include those with Owen Marshall , Greg McGee and Fiona Farrell Poole . Other notable people born and educated in Oamaru include Des Wilson , founder of the UK homelessness charity, Shelter ; Australian Prime Minister Chris Watson ; New Zealand politicians Arnold Nordmeyer and William Steward ; Cardinal Thomas Stafford Williams ; Sir Malcolm Grant , former president and Provost of University College London and subsequently Chairman of NHS England and Chancellor of

1705-573: The eastern gateway to the Mackenzie Basin , via the Waitaki Valley. Oamaru has been built between the rolling hills of limestone and short stretch of flat land to the sea. This limestone rock is used for the construction of local " Oamaru stone ", sometimes called "Whitestone" buildings. Oamaru enjoys a protected location in the shelter of Cape Wanbrow . The town was laid out in 1858 by Otago's provincial surveyor John Turnbull Thomson , who named

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1760-555: The fact that kūmara will not grow south of Banks Peninsula . On 20 February 1770 James Cook in the Endeavour reached a position very close to the Waitaki mouth and "about 3 Miles [5 km] from the shore", according to his journal. He said the land "here is very low and flat and continues so up to the skirts of the Hills which are at least 4 or 5 Miles [6–8 km] in land. The whole face of

1815-561: The first New Zealand towns to realise that its built heritage was an asset. A public art museum, the Forrester Gallery (whose first curator in 1882 was Thomas Forrester), opened in 1983 in R.A. Lawson 's neo-classical Bank of New South Wales building. Restoration of other buildings also took place. The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust was formed in 1987 with a vision of redeveloping the original commercial and business district of Oamaru's Harbour and Tyne Streets, and work began on restoring

1870-519: The first mate Robert Brown with two other Europeans and five lascars or Indian seamen, made eight in all, not seven as the manuscript says. They had been sent in an open boat from Stewart Island in search of a party of absconding lascars. Brown must have had some reason for searching for them on the North Otago coast. After Te Rauparaha 's sack of the large pā (fortified settlement) at Kaiapoi near modern Christchurch in 1831, refugees came south and gained permission to settle at Kakaunui (Kakanui), and

1925-402: The historic precinct beside the port, perhaps the most atmospheric urban area in New Zealand. By the early 21st century, "heritage" had become a conspicuous industry and today , the number of buildings owned by the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust had grown from the original eight to 17. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies the climate of Oamaru as oceanic (Cfb). Oamaru

1980-536: The last South Island district to resume alcohol sales. Development slowed apart from a few years in the 1920s, and in the 1950s, but the population continued to grow until the 1970s. With the closure of the port the local economy began to stall, and New Zealand then went through radical economic restructuring in the mid 1980s – known as " Rogernomics ". North Otago was then hit by two droughts from 1988 to 1989 and again from 1997 to 1999. Oamaru found itself hard hit. In response it started to re-invent itself, becoming one of

2035-486: The local creek running through the town) with abundant pure water (and energy for industrial machinery driven by water motors ) from the Waitaki river and conducted water in an open channel for almost 50 km through hilly farmland from Kurow to the Oamaru reservoir at Ardgowan, until it was decommissioned and abandoned in 1983. Today much of the former infrastructure is still intact and can still be traced. The district went "dry" in 1906, and stayed that way until 1960 –

2090-462: The local limestone (quarried especially near Weston) known as Oamaru stone . The Victorian precinct in the southern part of Oamaru's main commercial district ranks as one of New Zealand's most impressive streetscapes due to the many prominent 19th century buildings constructed from this material. Several key historic buildings in the area centred around Harbour Street and the lower Thames Street, Itchen Street, and Tyne Street area have been preserved by

2145-421: The north of the settlement (close to the farming community of Hilderthorpe ) marks the 45th parallel . The statistical unit which includes Pukeuri covers 19.70 km (7.61 sq mi). It is part of the larger Lower Waitaki statistical area. The unit had a population of 177 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 6 people (3.5%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 24 people (15.7%) since

2200-426: The occupants of these sites. The area also features Classic and Protohistoric sites, from after about AD 1500, at Tamahaerewhenua, Tekorotuaheka, Te Punamaru, Papakaio, and Kakanui . Māori tradition tells of the ancient people Kahui Tipua building a canoe, Ārai Te Uru , which sailed from southern New Zealand to the ancestral Polynesian homeland, Hawaiki , to obtain kūmara . On its return it became waterlogged off

2255-455: The opening of a stone gateway to Milner Park, Oamaru. E.A. Gifford (1819–1894), an artist and Royal Academician , lived in Oamaru from 1877 to 1885 and from 1892 until his death. A genre, portrait and landscape painter he established a national reputation. His Auckland from the Wharf of 1887 is probably the best-known image of 19th-century Auckland. Emily Gillies , a 19th-century Oamaru artist,

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2310-403: The region include Alma , Totara, Teschemakers, Reidston, Maheno , Kakanui , Herbert (also known as Otepopo ), Waianakarua , Hampden , and Moeraki , all on or close to the coast south of Oamaru. The coastal plain north of Oamaru has the settlements of Hilderthorpe and Pukeuri. Inland settlements include Weston , Ardgowan , Windsor , Five Forks, Peebles, Papakaio, Duntroon , Kurow (on

2365-516: The south bank of the Waitaki), Omarama , and Otematata . The area aspired to provincial status in the 19th century, but never attained this. Most of its territory belonged to the Waitaki County, and today is officially part of the Waitaki District . Some sense of regional identity survives in support of sport, notably the North Otago rugby team. In 1989, the northwestern part of the area, including

2420-413: The south-east coast from about AD 1100. The Waitaki River mouth had at least 1,200 ovens. Awamoa saw the first archaeological excavation in New Zealand when W.B.D. Mantell dug there at Christmas 1847 and in 1852. Smaller Archaic sites exist at Cape Wanbrow and at Beach Road in central Oamaru. The distinctive Archaic art of the Waitaki Valley rock shelters dates from this period — some of it presumably made by

2475-506: The territory between Pukeuri and Waianakarua, including the site of urban Oamaru, became their domain. Whalers sometimes visited this part of the coast in the 1830s. The Jason , for example, probably of New London in the United States, Captain Chester, was reported at "Otago Bluff" south of Kakanui, with 2,500 barrels (400 m ) of oil, on 1 December 1839. Edward Shortland visited

2530-527: The time of the depression of the 1880s Oamaru was home to an impressive array of buildings and the "best built and most mortgaged town in Australasia". A major factor in the near bankruptcy of the town was the construction of the Oamaru Borough Water Race, an aqueduct completed after three years' work in 1880. This major engineering feat replaced the previous poor water supply, (obtained from

2585-464: The town's principal living artists, Donna Demente , produces portraits and masks. At least partly through her work Oamaru hosts an annual mask festival each July, the "Midwinter Masquerade". Another annual celebration, a Victorian Heritage fête, takes place in November. Other noted former Oamaruvians include broadcaster Jim Mora and hockey player Scott Anderson . David Sewell played one test match for

2640-426: The towns of Omarama, Otematata, Kurow, and Duntroon officially became part of Canterbury region, testing this sense of identity and raising the ire of many locals. The rolling, tussock -clad hill country of North Otago provides the important agricultural base, originally through sheep-farming but now largely superseded by dairy. The generation of hydro-electricity in the Waitaki Valley has also drawn attention to

2695-551: Was 13.6, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.0% had no religion, 41.0% were Christian , 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (13.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 243 (22.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $ 36,900, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 168 people (15.6%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15

2750-566: Was 15.7, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 45.4% had no religion, 43.6% were Christian , 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.6% were Hindu , 0.4% were Muslim , 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 1,242 (11.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3,021 (28.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,017 people (9.4%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15

2805-466: Was so remarkably clear that, from the highest point of the pathway, Moeraki was distinctly in view..." He made a map and placed Oamaru on it. He was one of several Europeans who passed through the area on foot in the 1840s. James Saunders became the first European resident of the district some time before 1850 when he settled to trade among the Māori of the Waitaki River mouth. More European settlers arrived in

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2860-484: Was that 4,668 (43.3%) people were employed full-time, 1,545 (14.3%) were part-time, and 312 (2.9%) were unemployed. The mayor of Waitaki District is Gary Kircher. Oamaru is part of the parliamentary electorate of Waitaki , and since 2023 has been represented by Miles Anderson of the New Zealand National Party . The beautiful Oamaru Opera House on Thames Street, officially opened on 7 October 1907,

2915-495: Was that 591 (54.7%) people were employed full-time, 174 (16.1%) were part-time, and 33 (3.1%) were unemployed. Oamaru Oamaru ( / ˌ ɒ m ə ˈ r uː / ; Māori : Te Oha-a-Maru ) is the largest town in North Otago , in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District . It is 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Timaru and 120 kilometres (75 mi) north of Dunedin on

2970-429: Was that 75 (54.3%) people were employed full-time, 18 (13.0%) were part-time, and 3 (2.2%) were unemployed. Lower Waitaki covers 174.18 km (67.25 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,760 as of June 2024, with a population density of 10.1 people per km. Before the 2023 census, Lower Waitaki had a smaller boundary, covering 172.93 km (66.77 sq mi). Using that boundary, Lower Waitaki had

3025-552: Was the daughter of C.H. Street, maternal niece of Edward Lear (1812–1888), the English watercolourist and writer of humorous verse. Lear's sister had virtually brought her brother up. When he died childless before her she inherited his collection. The internationally-significant group of works came to North Otago, where it remained intact until the early 1970s. The artist Colin McCahon (1919–1987) lived in Oamaru from 1930 to 1931, attending

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