19-460: Moturata , also called Taieri Island , is an island in the mouth of the Taieri River in southern New Zealand. It is connected to the mainland by a sandy causeway at low tide. The island is a nature reserve, and is home to many protected seabirds, notably yellow-eyed penguins . It was the site of a whaling station, primarily targeting southern right whales and secondly humpbacks and others in
38-519: A mating group, which had not been observed in the waters of New Zealand for long period. Taieri Island may have been the "Isle of Wight" where The Brothers , a Sydney sealer chartered by Robert Campbell and commanded by Robert Mason landed eight of a gang of eleven men in November 1809. William Tucker, to Māori "Taka" and "Wioree" who settled in 1815 at Whareakeake (Murdering Beach) near the Otago Heads ,
57-515: A month and sunshine 227 hours per month. Autumn is brilliant as the extensive orchards and poplar shelterbelts turn red, yellow and gold. Temperatures range from −3 to 24 °C (26.6 to 75.2 °F). Rainfall averages 30 millimetres (1.2 in) a month with 11 frosts monthly and 150 hours of sunshine. Winter brings a temperature range of −6 to 15 °C (21.2 to 59.0 °F), and average monthly rainfall of 15 millimetres (0.6 in), 25 days with frosts and 107 hours of sunshine per month during
76-504: Is also part of Central Otago. Characterised by cold winters and hot, dry summers, the area is only lightly populated. First significant European occupation came with the discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully near Lawrence in 1861, which led to the Otago gold rush . Other towns and villages include Alexandra , Bannockburn , Clyde , Cromwell , Millers Flat , Naseby , Omakau , Ranfurly , Roxburgh , St. Bathans , and Wedderburn . Since
95-669: Is an area located in the inland part of the Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand . The motto for the area is "A World of Difference". The area is dominated by mountain ranges and the upper reaches of the Clutha River and tributaries. The wide flat plateau of the Maniototo which lies between the upper reaches of the Taieri River and the Clutha's northern tributary the Manuherikia
114-764: Is the Waipori River , which meets the Taieri near Henley on the Taieri Plains. Google Maps erroneously shows the stretch of the river from the confluence to the mouth as Waipori River. The official correct name is shown on the New Zealand government's official NZ Topo Map. However, while Taieri is the official name of the river, this name is known to be a misspelling of the Te Reo Māori word Taiari , meaning spring tide or shining water . Central Otago Central Otago
133-426: The 1830s and 40s. Many shore-whaling stations were operating all around New Zealand's coastline in this time, causing whale numbers to deplete to almost extinction. Today, whales are making a comeback slowly, occasionally being seen in this area in their migrating season. In June 2006, a pod of four southern right whales were seen frolicking off Taieri Mouth . The group was composed of 3 males and 1 female, thought to be
152-403: The 19th century, most of the area's economic activity has centred on sheep, stone fruit , and tourism. In recent years, deer farms and vineyards have increased the region's economic diversification. Central Otago is the world's southernmost commercial wine production region. Recently the cool climate varieties Riesling and Pinot noir have been recognised as being especially suitable, and as
171-565: The Pacific Ocean several hundred metres from the mouth of the river. The Taieri is 288 kilometres (179 mi) long, of which the last 20 kilometres (12 mi) are navigable. Despite its length the Taieri has a minimal amount of water volume compared to other New Zealand rivers with its average discharge being around 35 cubic metres per second (1,200 cu ft/s). Towns along the river include Middlemarch , Outram , Allanton , Mosgiel , Henley , and Taieri Mouth . Its major tributary
190-549: The aptly named locality of Serpentine ; the river has created many small oxbow lakes in this area, some of which have been converted into water meadows . From here the river runs through two small hydroelectric power stations before reaching Patearoa in The Maniototo . The Taieri then arcs through almost 180 degrees, entering a broad glacial valley (the Strath-Taieri ) surrounded by rugged hill ranges. Immediately downstream
209-432: The days cloudless and windless and the nights freezing. Alexandra, for example, has the lowest average annual rainfall (340 millimetres or 13.4 inches) recorded anywhere in New Zealand, is the least windy and has 148 frosts annually (only Lake Tekapo, with 149, has more). Ophir, 27 kilometres or 17 miles away, holds the record for the lowest air temperature recorded – −21.6 °C or −6.9 °F in mid-1995 – but it also held
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#1733085078099228-565: The evening of 9 June 1839 the schooner Dublin Packet , under the command of Captain Wells, was wrecked while attempting to pick up oil from the island station. She lost the second mate, the steward and a mentally ill man named "Dole" or "Cole" who was being sent from the Wellers' Otago station to Sydney. In 1844, Johnny Jones of Waikouaiti briefly revived whaling on the island where Tommy Chaseland (who
247-633: The highest reading (35.2 °C or 95.4 °F in 1959) until 42.4 °C (108.3 °F) was recorded at Rangiora, in Canterbury in 1973. Spring warms the soil and fruit tree blossom dominates the district's orchard areas. Temperatures range from −3 to 20 °C (26.6 to 68.0 °F) with 10 frosts a month. Average rainfall is 28 millimetres (1.1 in) a month and sunshine 206 hours per month. In summer, daylight lasts as long as 10 P.M.. Temperatures range from 10 to 30 °C (50 to 86 °F) on several days. Rainfall averages 38 millimetres (1.5 in)
266-521: The original Māori name Taiari ) is the fourth-longest river in New Zealand and is in Otago in the South Island . Rising in the Lammerlaw Range , it initially flows north, then east around the Rock and Pillar range before turning southeast, reaching the sea 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Dunedin . The upper reaches meander in a series of convoluted loops across a floodplain above Paerau , close to
285-637: The river has cut a steep-sided declivity, the Taieri Gorge . This is known for the Taieri Gorge Railway , which follows a route into Central Otago through it. In the Taieri's lower reaches there is a broad floodplain (the Taieri Plains ) containing much of Otago's most fertile farmland. The river then flows through the lower Taieri Gorge to the Pacific Ocean at Taieri Mouth . Taieri Island lies in
304-475: The short days. The colloquial name for Central Otago is simply "Central". Residents from the surrounding regions may not talk about being in Central Otago or going to Central Otago – instead referring to being or going "up Central" (this usage is mainly limited to residents of Canterbury , Otago and Southland ). The former Otago Central Railway , which ran through most of the major towns of Central Otago,
323-617: The vines age Central Otago wines can be expected to improve even further, as the plantings are new and increasing rapidly. The Central Otago District Council, based in Alexandra, administers territorial authority matters, while the Otago Regional Council has overview of environmental matters such as clean air and water resources. Central Otago is the coldest, driest part of New Zealand. The seasons are sharply defined: summers are hot and low in humidity; winter mornings are often misty,
342-456: Was in the gang. Alternatively the "Isle of Wight" may be Green Island a few kilometres along the coast to the north. In 1839 the Weller brothers of the Otago station on Otago Harbour established an outstation at Taieri Island, which they operated for three years. Edward Shortland recorded that it caught 70 tuns of oil in 1839, 15 in 1840 and 8 in 1841. The station operated under Mr. Cureton. In
361-456: Was of Australian aboriginal descent), with his wife Puna, Te Matenga Taiaroa 's sister, presided over the gang. According to the visiting Frederick Tuckett , "nowhere, perhaps, do twenty Englishmen reside on a spot so comfortless as this naked inaccessible isle". 46°03′28″S 170°13′03″E / 46.057812°S 170.217369°E / -46.057812; 170.217369 Taieri River The Taieri River (a misspelling of
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