74-413: The Tapanui Branch was a railway line located near the border of the regions of Southland and Otago , New Zealand . Although the name suggests that it terminated in Tapanui , its furthest terminus was actually in Edievale . Construction of the line began in 1878 with the first section opened in 1880, and it operated until 1978, when it was destroyed by flooding from the Pomahaka River . In
148-575: A schism between the Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland . In 1852, James Menzies , leader of the Southland separatist movement, became the first Superintendent of the tiny Southland electorate which was still part of the large Otago region. Under the influence of Menzies, Southland Province (a small part of the present Region, centred on Invercargill ) seceded from Otago in 1861 following
222-588: A "Māori house" had to be built in 1881 to accommodate them when they travelled from Ruapuke and Stewart Island to Bluff to sell produce. On 10 June 1840, Tūhawaiki , a paramount chief of Kāi Tahu, signed the Treaty of Waitangi aboard HMS Herald at Ruapuke. Aware that this treaty did not guarantee him sovereignty over his land he had previously asserted that he would sign it if those bringing it to him would sign one he had prepared himself. In 1853, Walter Mantell purchased Murihiku from local Māori iwi, claiming
296-508: A category 2 historic place by Heritage New Zealand , No longer used as a place of worship the building is currently being converted into an art centre, with a studio and flat for visiting artists. The latter houses the bedroom furniture from the Royal Suite commissioned for the Queen's Royal Tour to Southland in 1954. The Hokonui Moonshine Museum in the heritage precinct celebrates Gore's part in
370-658: A major geological fold system, the Southland Syncline , which extends from the coast northwestward, and include the Hokonui Hills above Gore. Off the coast of Southland lies the Great South Basin which stretches over 500,000 square kilometres (190,000 sq mi)—an area 1.5 times New Zealand's land mass). It is one of the country's largest undeveloped offshore petroleum basins with prospects for both oil and gas . Weather conditions in Southland are cooler than
444-670: A nickname of "Chicago of the South". By 1905, the population had increased to 2,354, compared with 1,618 in 1891. The establishment of the Gore Electric Light & Power Syndicate led in 1894 to Gore becoming the third town in New Zealand to install a generator and provide a public electricity supply. From the end of the Second World War until 1976, Gore enjoyed prosperity driven by record prices for agricultural produce which saw
518-697: A regular occurrence in the region. Summers are temperable with downpours and cold snaps not being uncommon. On 7 January 2010, Invercargill was hit by a hail storm with temperatures plummeting rapidly from 15 °C to 8 °C in the afternoon. Occasionally, temperatures exceed 25 °C with an extreme temperature of 33.8 °C having been reached before in Invercargill in 1948 and 35.0 °C in Winton in 2018. Winters are colder and more severe than other regions, although not by much. The mean maximum temperature in July
592-404: A reputation as a centre for the visual arts in the southern South Island. A major bequest to the town's Eastern Southland Art Gallery by Dr. John Money has left the institution with one of the country's best collections of ethnological art. This is partnered by an impressive collection of modern New Zealand work, including several notable pieces by Ralph Hotere . The Flemings "Creamoata Mill"
666-420: A rolling 'r'. Food-wise, cheese rolls are a Southland specialty and swedes are a popular vegetable, prepared and eaten as are pumpkin and kumara (sweet potato) elsewhere in New Zealand. For many years a television channel, known as Southland TV from 2003–07, later Cue TV , transmitted Southland content. The strength of Southland identity may owe something to the relatively high proportion of New Zealand-born in
740-471: A sex ratio of 0.93 males per female, with 1,389 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 1,314 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 3,324 (42.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,884 (23.8%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 90.4% European/ Pākehā , 11.7% Māori , 0.9% Pasifika , 2.6% Asian , and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.8, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer
814-466: A significant proportion of the region's revenue and export receipts. Much of this farming is on the Southland Plains , with expansion into the more remote western regions since the 1950s and 1960s. Southland also has the world's largest raw milk-processing plant at the town of Edendale which was established by Fonterra . In the 2019-20 season, there were 591,600 milking cows in Southland, 12.0% of
SECTION 10
#1732856049419888-610: A strong cultural identity, including its own distinct dialect of English and strong influences from its Māori and Scottish heritage. Southland extends from Fiordland in the west past the Mataura River to the Catlins the east. It contains New Zealand's highest waterfall, the Browne Falls , and its deepest lake, Lake Hauroko . Fiordland's terrain is dominated by mountains, fiords and glacial lakes carved up by glaciations during
962-502: Is There are four primary schools in Gore, each serving years 1 to 6. All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024. Gore is well known for its connection with Country and Western music , with the annual New Zealand country music awards having been held in the town for 36 years. It has a sister city relationship with Tamworth, New South Wales , the "Country Music Capital of Australia ". Recently Gore has also gained
1036-476: Is 9.5 °C and Southland's lowest recorded temperature was −18 °C in July 1946. Snow and frost also frequently occur in inland areas but are less common and extreme in coastal areas where the oceans act as a moderating factor. The long-lasting cool and wet conditions are influenced by the presence of a stationary low-pressure zone to the southeast of the country. Fiordland has a wet mountain climate though conditions vary due to altitude and exposure. Rainfall
1110-610: Is a town and district in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. It has a resident population of 8,290 as of June 2024. Gore is known for its country music scene and hosts an annual country music festival. The town is also surrounded by farmland and is an important centre for agriculture in the region. The town of Gore is located on State Highway 1 , 64 kilometres northeast of Invercargill and 70 km west of Balclutha – Dunedin and Invercargill are
1184-471: Is an iconic local building, with Flemings "Creamoata" brand of porridge once promoted by Flemings as the National Breakfast, and the mill itself considered one of the most modern cereal mills in the southern hemisphere. Production of all products was moved to Australia in 2001, and Creamoata was discontinued in 2008 after declining sales. Goodman Fielder claimed that the plant was no longer viable as it
1258-638: Is bordered by the culturally similar Otago Region to the north and east, and the West Coast Region in the extreme northwest. The region covers over 3.1 million hectares and spans 3,613 km of coastline. As of June 2023 , Southland has a population of 103,900, making it the eleventh-most-populous New Zealand region, and the second-most sparsely populated. Approximately half of the region's population lives in Invercargill , Southland's only city. The earliest inhabitants of Southland were Māori of
1332-524: Is divided into two parliamentary electorates . The large rural electorate of Southland , held by Joseph Mooney of the New Zealand National Party , also includes some of the neighbouring Otago Region. The seat of Invercargill is held by Penny Simmonds of the New Zealand National Party . Under the Māori electorates system, Southland is part of the large Te Tai Tonga electorate which covers
1406-453: Is home to two national parks: Fiordland National Park and Rakiura National Park . The former which covers 7,860 square kilometres; making it New Zealand's largest national park . Southland also includes Stewart Island, 85% of which is covered by Rakiura National Park . Both parks are administrated by the Department of Conservation . Politically, Southland proper extends from Fiordland in
1480-545: Is part of the Darran mountains. The largest lake in Southland is Lake Te Anau followed by Lake Manapouri which both lie within the boundaries of Fiordland National Park . Established on 20 February 1905, it is the largest national park in New Zealand—covering much of Fiordland which is devoid of human settlement. Fiordland's terrain is dominated by mountains, fiords and glacial lakes carved up by glaciations during
1554-705: Is situated on the eastern edge of the Hokonui Hills , and many of its surrounding farmlands are located within foothills. The Main South Line railway from Christchurch to Invercargill runs through the town, though passenger services ceased in 2002 with the cancellation of the Southerner. Gore was once a busy railway junction; the Waimea Plains Railway ran west to connect with the Kingston Branch in Lumsden , while
SECTION 20
#17328560494191628-550: Is the country's second-most sparsely populated region (after the West Coast ), with 3.40 people per square kilometre (8.80 per square mile). Southland Region had a population of 100,143 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,676 people (2.7%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 6,801 people (7.3%) since the 2013 census . There were 50,115 males, 49,704 females and 321 people of other genders in 41,070 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age
1702-515: Is the highest in the country and varies between 6,500 and 7,500 mm annually. The farthest coastal reaches of Fiordland are characterized by a limited temperature range with increasing rainfall at higher altitudes. The moist wet climate is influenced by approaching low-pressure systems which sweep across the country entering Fiordland. Southland Region covers 31,218.95 km (12,053.70 sq mi). It has an estimated population of 106,100 as of June 2024, 2.0% of New Zealand's population. It
1776-524: The Southland District , which is administered by its own Council, also based in Invercargill. The Gore District Council administers the Gore township and its rural hinterland. In 2001, the three authorities (Invercargill City, Southland District and Gore District Councils) created the joint initiative agency Venture Southland which is the agency responsible for the region's economic and community development initiatives and tourism promotion. The region
1850-516: The Southland Plains predominate which include some of New Zealand's most fertile farmlands. The region's two principal settlements Invercargill and Gore are located on the plains. The plains extend from the Waiau River in the west to the Mataura River to the east. It can be divided into three broad areas: the Southland plain proper, the Waimea Plains and the lower Waiau plain to the west near
1924-693: The Waikaka Branch connected with the Main South Line nearby in McNab. The original Kingston Flyer ran between Gore, on the main Dunedin-Invercargill line, and Kingston, from where lake steamers provided a connection with Queenstown. It was withdrawn in 1937, although specials continued into the 1950s. The 1970s revival of the Flyer did not include Gore. Before the arrival of Europeans the current site of Gore
1998-514: The Waitaha iwi , followed later by Kāti Māmoe and Kāi Tahu . Early European arrivals were sealers and whalers , and by the 1830s, Kāi Tahu had built a thriving industry supplying whaling vessels, looked after whalers and settlers in need, and had begun to integrate with the settlers. By the second half of the 19th century these industries had declined, and immigrants, predominantly Scottish settlers , had moved further inland. The region maintains
2072-618: The last ice age , between 75,000 and 15,000 years ago. The region's coast is dotted by several fiords and other sea inlets which stretch from Milford Sound in the north to Preservation Inlet to the south. Farther north and east in Fiordland lie the Darran and Eyre Mountains which are part of the block of schist that extends into neighbouring Central Otago . The region is rich in natural resources, with large reserves of forestry , coal , petroleum and natural gas . The earliest inhabitants of
2146-563: The 21st century the Asian-origin population of Southland increased owing to the recruitment of dairy workers, many of them from the Philippines. In 2013 the population of Asian origin accounted for 3.2% of the Southland total. The West Coast aside, Southland has New Zealand's strongest regional identity. It is the only part of New Zealand which has a distinct regional accent (shared with most rural parts of Otago), characterized in particular by
2220-544: The Bank of New South Wales followed suit. After its construction began in the early 1870s, a railway line between Invercargill and Gore was opened on 30 August 1875. By 22 January 1879 the railway had been extended to Balclutha where it linked with an existing line to Dunedin. A private Waimea Plains railway from Gore to Lumsden was opened on 31 July 1880. This was subsequently purchased by the Government in 1886. It connected Gore with
2294-532: The Invercargill-Kingston branch line. By 1908 another branch had been completed via McNab to Waikaka. The extension of the railways established Gore as an important hub and had a significant effect on its development. By 1879, The Ensign newspaper was being published in the town, followed in 1887 by the rival Standard . In 1885, Gore was constituted a borough and in 1890 Gordon, by now commonly known as East Gore, amalgamated with Gore. Gore acquired
Tapanui Branch - Misplaced Pages Continue
2368-556: The Waiau river. The southern part of these plains (including the Awarua Plains along the coast east of Bluff ) contains much wetland and swamp. In the far southeast of Southland rises the rough hill country of the Catlins . This area is divided between Southland and the neighbouring Otago region, with the largest settlement, Owaka , being within Otago. The hills of the Catlins form part of
2442-507: The actual line, at 25.13 kilometres in length, was opened to a settlement just beyond Tapanui named Kelso on 1 December 1880. In this year, it was proposed to build a line westwards to the Waikaia area from Kelso, but the proposals came to nothing and the Waikaia Branch was built from Riversdale on the Waimea Plains Railway instead. An extension of 7.11 kilometres from Kelso to Heriot
2516-509: The aged A class steam locomotives that typically ran trains on the branch were replaced by D class diesel-electric engines (steam locomotive power fully disappeared from New Zealand's railway system by the end of 1971). Catastrophe hit the line in mid-October 1978. Extremely severe flooding along the Pomahaka River demolished bridges and washed out the trackage in many places, and costly repairs would not have been economic. Formal closure
2590-423: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 10,104 (12.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 45,333 (55.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 22,866 (28.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 41,100, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 6,549 people (8.1%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
2664-477: The census's question about religious affiliation, 47.7% had no religion, 43.1% were Christian , 0.6% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.3% were Hindu , 0.3% were Muslim , 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.8% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 612 (9.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,938 (29.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 702 people (10.8%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
2738-470: The coastline was a scene of early extended contact between Māori and Europeans, in this case sealers, whalers and missionaries such as Wohlers at Ruapuke Island . Contact was established as early as 1813. By the 1830s, Kāi Tahu had built a thriving industry supplying whaling vessels, looked after whalers and settlers in need, and had begun to integrate with the settlers. Throughout the nineteenth century local Māori continued such regular travel from trade that
2812-483: The country's total herd. The cows produced 247,230 tonnes of milk solids, worth $ 1,780 million at the national average farmgate price ($ 7.20 per kg). Other sizeable industries in Southland include coal and hydroelectric power. Eastern Southland has significant deposits of lignite which are considered to be New Zealand's biggest fossil fuel energy resource. Solid Energy operated open cast lignite mines at Newvale and Ohai until its 2015 bankruptcy. Southland hosts
2886-458: The doors. There was "still plenty to see" in the 1990s, and "the flood markings alone are sobering". The large Heriot goods shed is understood to have been removed in the late 1990s. Southland, New Zealand Southland ( Māori : Murihiku , lit. 'the last joint of the tail') is New Zealand 's southernmost region . It consists of the southwestern portion of the South Island and includes Stewart Island . Southland
2960-538: The entire South Island and the surrounding islands, and is currently held by Tākuta Ferris of Te Pāti Māori . Regional responsibilities are handled by the Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland). Three territorial authorities fall entirely within Southland. The Invercargill City Council governs Invercargill itself, together with some adjoining rural areas. Much of the remaining area of Southland, including all of Stewart Island , falls within
3034-512: The escalation of political tensions. However, rising debt forced Southland to rejoin Otago in 1870, and the province was abolished entirely when the Abolition of the Provinces Act came into force on 1 November 1876. In the 1880s, the development of an export industry based on butter and cheese encouraged the growth of dairy farming in Southland. Consequently, the colony's first dairy factory
Tapanui Branch - Misplaced Pages Continue
3108-456: The junction in Waipahi. The line was indispensable before the expansion of decent road networks, but as improvements came in road transport in the 20th century, traffic began to decline. The Great Depression did not help the line's fortunes, with revenue dropping as fast as expenditure was rising in 1930. To save money, passenger services on the line were cancelled and replaced by buses, thus making
3182-595: The land for European settlement. Part of the agreement was that schools and hospitals would be provided alongside each Kāi Tahu village; this promise was not fulfilled. The boundaries of the land sold were also not made sufficiently clear, with Kāi Tahu always maintaining that Fiordland was not intended to be included in this purchase. Over successive decades, present-day Southland and Otago were settled by large numbers of Scottish settlers. Immigration to New Zealand had been precipitated by an economic depression in Scotland and
3256-408: The last ice age, between 75,000 and 15,000 years ago. The region's coast is dotted by several fiords and other sea inlets which stretch from Milford Sound in the north to Preservation Inlet to the south. Farther north and east in Fiordland lie the Darran and Eyre Mountains which are part of the block of schist that extends into neighbouring Central Otago . Farther east of the Waiau River ,
3330-578: The line for a few more years, with tonnages varying between 30,000 and 60,000 tonnes in the 1970s. The freight carried at this time was mainly from the State Forest's Conical Hill Sawmill located nine kilometres up the line, and phosphate from the Southland Co-op Phosphate Co.'s works near Bluff to West Otago Transport in Heriot. In March 1969, trains were re-organised to operate from Gore , and
3404-485: The locality became known as "the Long Ford", or Longford. In 1862 a few town sections were surveyed on the west bank of the river and Longford was named Gore as a compliment to Sir Thomas Gore Browne , an early Governor of New Zealand. One of the first buildings was Long Ford House an accommodation house opened by local sawmill owner Daniel Morton. A village named Gordon after Governor Sir Arthur Gordon became established on
3478-458: The marae, creating eight jobs. Gore covers 13.76 km (5.31 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 8,290 as of June 2024, with a population density of 602 people per km . Gore had a population of 7,911 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 219 people (2.8%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 156 people (2.0%) since the 2006 census . There were 3,360 households, comprising 3,807 males and 4,107 females, giving
3552-459: The mixed trains goods-only, and the Edievale locomotive depot closed on 1 January 1934. The freight service was run when required, operating regularly on weekdays for many years, but it continued to lose money. The under-utilised section from Heriot to Edievale was closed on 1 January 1968 as it only saw 4,000 tonnes of traffic a year, but enough traffic existed to justify the existence of the rest of
3626-608: The nation's largest hydroelectric power station at Manapouri which is owned by Meridian Energy and powers the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter . The Manapouri project generated much controversy from environmental groups which initiated the Save Manapouri Campaign in opposition to rising water levels in nearby lakes. Tourism spending is a major factor of the Southland economy, with NZ$ 595 million being spent by visitors in 2016, of which $ 210 million
3700-450: The nearest cities. The Gore District has a resident population of 13,200 (June 2024). The urban area estimated resident population in June 2024 was 8,290, the second largest in Southland. Gore is a service town for the surrounding farm communities. It is divided by the Mataura River into Gore and East Gore, the majority of the town being situated on the western banks of the river. The town
3774-618: The opposite bank of the Mataura. By 1864 a road from Balclutha through Gore to Invercargill had been opened for wheeled traffic which allowed the establishment of a regular coach service between Invercargill and Dunedin. By 1877, there were enough business opportunities in the area for the Bank of New Zealand to establish a branch in Gore. Within three years both the Bank of Australasia and the Colonial Bank of New Zealand had also opened branches. In 1899
SECTION 50
#17328560494193848-855: The other regions of New Zealand due to its distance from the equator . However, they can be broken down into three types: the temperate oceanic climate of the coastal regions, the semi-continental climate of the interior and the wetter mountain climate of Fiordland to the west. Due to its closer proximity to the South Pole, the Aurora Australis or "Southern Lights" are more commonly seen than in other regions. The coastal regions have mild summers and cool winters. The mean daily temperature varies from 5.2 °C in July to 14.9 °C in January. Rainfall varies from 900 mm to 1300 mm annually with rainfall being more frequent in coastal areas and rainbows being
3922-426: The region – 85% compared with 70% for New Zealand as a whole at the 2013 census. With a population of 51,700 Invercargill , the region's main centre and seat of local government, makes up half of Southland's total. Six other centres have populations over 1,000: Gore , Mataura , Winton , Riverton , Bluff and Te Anau . Most of Southland's population is concentrated on the eastern Southland Plains . Fiordland ,
3996-422: The regional GDP, goods-producing industries contributed $ 1.52 billion (25.2%), service industries contributed $ 2.63 billion (43.7%), and taxes and duties contributed $ 516 million (8.6%). The region's economy is based on agriculture, tourism, fishing, forestry and energy resources like coal and hydropower . The agriculture industry includes both sheep and dairy farming which both account for
4070-648: The region—known to Māori as Murihiku ('the last joint of the tail')—were Māori of the Waitaha iwi , followed later by Kāti Māmoe and Kāi Tahu . Waitaha sailed on the Uruao waka, whose captain Rākaihautū named sites and carved out lakes throughout the area. The Takitimu Mountains were formed by the overturned Kāi Tahu waka Tākitimu . Descendants created networks of customary food gathering sites, travelling seasonally as needed, to support permanent and semi-permanent settlements in coastal and inland regions. In later years,
4144-545: The second half of the 19th century, farmers in the region desired a railway connection to enhance the value of their land and provide easier access to markets, and received support from interests in Dunedin , who, in the days before the abolition of provinces in 1876, feared a loss of trade to Invercargill . In 1877, district engineer W. N. Blair proposed a route to Central Otago via Tapanui, but this proved unpopular outside of Tapanui and its immediate surrounds. However, approval
4218-514: The stands of macrocarpa trees that once defined its limits, although the station building is gone. The hump in Station Rd that was the level crossing and an old commercial building beside the level crossing also remain. Flooding almost entirely destroyed Kelso and it is now abandoned, though the railway's second goods shed still exists. On lower ground is the ruins of the town's former service station, with sombre viewing created by flood levels marked on
4292-545: The surrounding area were converted to dairy farms to take advantage of high prices for dairy produce. This growth has led to low unemployment in the town. O Te Ika Rama Marae is in Gore. It is a marae (meeting ground) of the Hokonui Rūnanga branch of Ngāi Tahu , and includes O Te Ika Rama wharenui (meeting house). In October 2020, the government committed $ 424,567 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade
4366-464: The town's population rise from 5,000 in 1945 to 9,000 in 1976. By the late 1960s, it was reputed to have the highest per-capita retail turnover of any New Zealand town. The farm sector went into decline after 1976 which led to a corresponding decline in the population. Related businesses also closed, including the town's iconic cereal mill, which had processed oats and other grains since 1877. Since 2000 prosperity has returned as large numbers of farms in
4440-508: The west past the Mataura River to the Catlins the east. To the north, Southland is framed by the Darran and Eyre Mountains. Farther south lies Stewart Island which is separated from the mainland by the Foveaux Strait . Southland contains New Zealand's highest waterfall—the Browne Falls . Lake Hauroko is the deepest lake in the country. The highest peak in Southland is Mount Tūtoko , which
4514-412: The western part of the region, is almost totally devoid of permanent human settlement. The subnational gross domestic product (GDP) of Southland was estimated at NZ$ 6.36 billion in the year to March 2019, 2.1% of New Zealand's national GDP. The subnational GDP per capita was estimated at $ 63,084 in the same period. In the year to March 2018, primary industries contributed $ 1.35 billion (22.4%) to
SECTION 60
#17328560494194588-561: Was 40.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18,921 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 17,208 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 45,495 (45.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 18,516 (18.5%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.1% European ( Pākehā ); 16.8% Māori ; 3.3% Pasifika ; 7.1% Asian ; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
4662-399: Was a part of or near the routes used by Maori travellers. Tuturau, near modern Mataura, was the nearest Maori settlement. In 1836 southern Maori repelled a raid from the north, which provided sufficient security for Europeans to purchase land and settle in the area. By the mid-1850s large tracts nearby had been converted into sheep runs. As crossing the Mataura River involved a long fording,
4736-602: Was confirmed two months later in December. Before its closure in 1962, the Waikaka Branch ran in a valley parallel to that occupied by the Tapanui Branch, and trivia associated with operation of the lines is that locomotive crews in one valley claimed they were sometimes able to see smoke from a steam engine operating in the other valley. Relics of this branch survive today, though as time progresses, remnants of old railways deteriorate and in some cases disappear entirely, so what
4810-466: Was established at Edendale in 1882. Much of this export went to the United Kingdom. Now, Edendale is the site of the world's largest raw milk-processing plant, and Southland's economy is based on agriculture, tourism, fishing, forestry , coal, and hydropower . Southland Region and the Southland Regional Council were created in 1989, as part of the 1989 local government reforms . Southland
4884-581: Was granted for the construction of a branch line in the area and construction began in 1878, leaving the Main South Line at Waipahi , located 50 kilometres west of Balclutha . The first locomotive for the line was delivered on 8 July 1880 and the Public Works Department began operating trains to Tapanui three days later. The official opening ceremony in Tapanui was held on 24 November 1880, though
4958-576: Was opened on 1 April 1884. The local newspaper, the Tapanui Courier , believed that only a short tunnel and some clay cuttings in the Dunrobin Hills stood in the way of extending the railway line to the Clutha River and then on to Roxburgh . In 1900, the government chose to extend the railway from Heriot to Edievale pending a final decision on the route to Roxburgh, and this ten kilometre extension
5032-561: Was opened on 18 February 1905, bringing the branch's total length to 42.3 kilometres. Edievale proved to be the final terminus when the line from Milton via Lawrence was extended to Roxburgh instead. The following stations were located on the Tapanui Branch (in brackets is the distance in kilometres from the junction in Waipahi): In the early days, a mixed train operated from Edievale daily. These mixed trains connected with mainline expresses and local Invercargill - Clinton services at
5106-464: Was operating at less than one third of its capacity. The building's famous "Sgt Dan" remains because rights to it have been purchased by the buildings current owner "Sgt Dan Stockfoods Ltd". The building has a Category I listing with Heritage New Zealand . The former East Gore Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the two remaining wooden Gothic churches designed by the eminent architect R.A. Lawson . Built in 1880 and registered as
5180-471: Was previously evident may no longer exist. Bridges sans rails are believed to still exist in the early stages of the line, notably including a truss bridge across the Pomahaka River . The Tapanui railway station and yard were never in Tapanui township; they were situated approximately 2 km away in a field adjacent to the Station Rd level crossing. The Tapanui railway yard precinct remains obvious, as are
5254-530: Was spent in the Fiordland area. In July 2007 the New Zealand Government awarded oil and gas exploration permits for four areas of the Great South Basin . The three successful permit holders were ExxonMobil New Zealand, OMV and Greymouth Petroleum . 45°42′S 168°06′E / 45.7°S 168.1°E / -45.7; 168.1 Gore, New Zealand Gore ( Māori : Maruawai )
5328-541: Was spoken by 97.3%, Māori language by 3.1%, Samoan by 0.5% and other languages by 7.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.4, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 33.1% Christian , 0.8% Hindu , 0.4% Islam , 0.5% Māori religious beliefs , 0.6% Buddhist , 0.4% New Age , and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.9%, and 8.3% of people did not answer
5402-508: Was that 3,075 (47.1%) people were employed full-time, 960 (14.7%) were part-time, and 183 (2.8%) were unemployed. In Köppen-Geiger climate classification system , it has an oceanic climate . The FM Hokonui radio station broadcasts from Gore to listeners in Southland and South Otago. The smaller, locally owned radio station Cave FM broadcasts in Gore and online. Gore has primary, intermediate and high schools. The two secondary schools in Gore are: The only intermediate school in Gore
5476-406: Was that 43,197 (53.2%) people were employed full-time, 11,688 (14.4%) were part-time, and 1,749 (2.2%) were unemployed. A relatively high proportion of nineteenth century migrants came from Scotland and Ireland. Māori are largely concentrated around the port of Bluff. During the 1940s, the development of the freezing works boosted a short-term immigration to the region by North Island Māori. In
#418581