Otago Ōtākou (Māori) | |
|---|---|
| Otago Region | |
 Otago within New Zealand | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Established | 1848 (Dunedin settlement) 1852 (Otago Province) |
| Seat | Dunedin |
| Territorial authorities | |
| Government | |
| • Body | Otago Regional Council |
| • Chair | Gretchen Robertson |
| • Deputy Chair | Lloyd McCall |
| Area | |
• Region | 31,251 km2 (12,066 sq mi) |
| • Land | 31,186.16 km2 (12,041.04 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[1] | |
• Region | 257,200 |
| • Density | 8.2/km2 (21/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | NZ$ 15.336 billion (2021) (6th) |
| • Per capita | NZ$ 62,518 (2021) |
| Time zone | UTC+12:00 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13:00 (NZDT) |
| HDI (2022) | 0.936[3] very high ·6th |
| Website | www.otago.co.nz www.orc.govt.nz |
Otago (/əˈtɑːɡoʊ/ ⓘ,/oʊ-,ɒ-/[4];Māori:Ōtākou[ɔːˈtaːkou]) is aregion of New Zealand located in the southern half of theSouth Island administered by theOtago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately 32,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi),[5] making it the country's second largest local government region. Its population was 257,200 in June 2024.[1]
The name "Otago" is the localsouthern Māori dialect pronunciation of "Ōtākou", the name of the Māori village near the entrance toOtago Harbour.[6][7] 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 aroundDunedin. "Otago" is also the old name of the European settlement on the harbour, established by theWeller Brothers in 1831, which lies close toOtakou. The upper harbour later became the focus of theOtago Association, an offshoot of theFree 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 centresQueenstown andWānaka.Kaitangata inSouth Otago is a prominent source ofcoal. TheWaitaki andClutha rivers provide much of the country'shydroelectric power.Vineyards and wineries have been developed in theCentral Otago wine region. Some parts of the area originally covered byOtago Province are now administered by eitherCanterbury Regional Council orSouthland Regional Council.
Like the rest of mainland New Zealand, Otago was first settled by theMāori people. Most of the Māori settlement in Otago was upon the coast and centred around theOtago Peninsula.[8] The Otago settlement, an outgrowth of theFree Church of Scotland, was founded in March 1848 with the arrival of the first two immigrant ships fromGreenock on theFirth of Clyde — theJohn Wickliffe and thePhilip Laing. CaptainWilliam Cargill, a veteran of thePeninsular War, was the secular leader. Otago citizens subsequently elected him to the office of provincial Superintendent after theNew Zealand provinces were created in 1853.[9]
TheOtago Province was the whole of New Zealand from theWaitaki River south, including Stewart Island and the sub-Antarctic islands. It included the territory of the laterSouthland Province and also the much more extensive lands of the modernSouthland Region.
.jpg)
Initial settlement was concentrated on the port and city, then expanded, notably to the south-west, where the fertileTaieri Plains offered good farmland.[10] The 1860s saw rapid commercial expansion afterGabriel Read discovered gold atGabriel's Gully nearLawrence, and theOtago gold rush ensued.[11]
Veterans of goldfields in California and Australia, plus many other fortune-seekers from Europe, North America and China, poured into the then Province of Otago, eroding its ScottishPresbyterian character. Further gold discoveries atClyde and on the Arrow River aroundArrowtown led to a boom, and Otago became for a period the cultural and economic centre of New Zealand. New Zealand's first daily newspaper, theOtago Daily Times, originally edited byJulius Vogel, dates from this period.[12]
New Zealand's first university, theUniversity of Otago, was founded in 1869 as the provincial university in Dunedin.[13]
The Province of Southland separated from Otago Province and set up its own Provincial Council atInvercargill 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 the Abolition of the Provinces Act came into force on 1 November 1876,[14] and were replaced by other forms of local authority, including counties. Two in Otago were named after the Scottish independence heroesWallace andBruce. From this time the national limelight gradually shifted northwards.
Otago's flag was chosen from a 2004 competition. It was designed by Gregor Macauly.[15]
Beginning in the west, the geography of Otago consists of high alpine mountains. The highest peak in Otago (and highest outside theAoraki / Mount Cook area) isMount Aspiring / Tititea,[16] which is on theMain Divide. From the high mountains the rivers discharge into large glacial lakes. In this part of Otagoglacial activity – both recent and very old – dominates the landscape, with largeU-shaped valleys and rivers which have high sediment loads. River flows also vary dramatically, with large flood flows occurring after heavy rain. LakesWakatipu,Wānaka, andHāwea form the sources of theClutha River / Mata-Au, the largest river (by discharge) in New Zealand. The Clutha flows generally to the southeast through Otago and discharges nearBalclutha. The river has been used forhydroelectric power generation, with large dams atClyde andRoxburgh. The traditional northern boundary of the region, theWaitaki River, is also heavily utilised for hydroelectricity, though the region's current official boundaries put much of that river's catchment inCanterbury.
The country's fourth-longest river, theTaieri, 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 – the broad high valley of theStrath-Taieri in its upper reaches, and the fertileTaieri Plains as it approaches the ocean.
Travelling east from the mountains, theCentral Otago drylands predominate. These areCanterbury–Otago tussock grasslands dominated by the block mountains, upthrustschist mountains. In contrast to Canterbury, where the Northwest winds blow across the plains without interruption, in Otago the block mountains impede and dilute the effects of theNor'wester.
The main Central Otago centres, such asAlexandra andCromwell, 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 onOtago Harbour. Elsewhere, basalt outcrops can be found along the coast and at other sites.
Comparatively similar terrain exists in the high plateau land of theManiototo 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 theOtago gold rush of the 1860s. The townships ofRanfurly andNaseby also lie in this area.
In the southeastern corner of Otago liesThe Catlins,[16] an area of rough hill country which geologically forms part of the Murihikuterrane, an accretion which extends inland through theHokonui Hills in theSouthland region. This itself forms part of a larger system known as the SouthlandSyncline, which links to similar formations inNelson (offset by theAlpine Fault) and even inNew Caledonia, 3,500 km (2,200 mi) away.[17]
The Catlins ranges arestrike ridges composed ofTriassic andJurassicsandstones,mudstones and other related sedimentary rocks, often with a high incidence offeldspar. Fossils of the late and middle TriassicWarepan 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.[18]
Coastal regions of Otago are subject to the alternating warm and dry/cool and wet weather patterns common to the interannualSouthern 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 thenorthwesterlyföhn wind, which dries as it crosses theSouthern Alps. Wetter air is the result of approaching low-pressure systems which sweep fronts over 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 the hills and plains ofSouth 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.
InCentral 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 is part of the reason whyCentral 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 – the township ofRanfurly in Central Otago holds the New Zealand record for lowest temperature with a reading of −25.6 °C on 18 July 1903.[19]
Otago Region covers 31,186.16 km2 (12,041.04 sq mi).[20] The population is 257,200 as of June 2024,[1][1] which is approximately 4.8 percent of New Zealand's total population of 5.3 million. The population density is 8.2 people per km2. About 41.5 percent of 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 theUniversity of Otago – and especially itsmedical school – which attracts students from all over New Zealand and overseas.[21]
Other significant urban centres in Otago with populations over 1,000 include:Queenstown,Oamaru,Wānaka,Port Chalmers,Cromwell,Alexandra,Balclutha,Milton andMosgiel. Between 1996 and 2006, the population of theQueenstown-Lakes District grew by 60% due to the region's boomingtourism industry.[22]
| Urban area | Population (June 2024)[1] | % of region |
|---|---|---|
| Dunedin[a] | 106,700 | 41.5% |
| Queenstown | 27,700 | 10.8% |
| Mosgiel | 15,150 | 5.9% |
| Oamaru | 14,350 | 5.6% |
| Wānaka | 13,600 | 5.3% |
| Cromwell | 7,440 | 2.9% |
| Alexandra | 6,150 | 2.4% |
| Balclutha | 4,430 | 1.7% |
| Arrowtown | 2,930 | 1.1% |
| Milton | 2,270 | 0.9% |
| Brighton | 1,580 | 0.6% |
| Waikouaiti | 1,330 | 0.5% |
| Clyde | 1,290 | 0.5% |
| ||
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 177,525 | — |
| 1996 | 185,085 | +0.84% |
| 2001 | 181,542 | −0.39% |
| 2006 | 193,803 | +1.32% |
| 2013 | 202,470 | +0.63% |
| 2018 | 225,186 | +2.15% |
| 2023 | 240,900 | +1.36% |
| Source:[23][24] | ||
| Nationality | Population (2018) |
|---|---|
| England | 10,710 |
| Australia | 5,160 |
| China | 2,442 |
| United States of America | 2,226 |
| Philippines | 2,157 |
| India | 2,046 |
| Scotland | 1,908 |
| South Africa | 1,755 |
| Germany | 1,134 |
| Brazil | 1,089 |
Otago had a population of 240,900 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15,714 people (7.0%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 38,430 people (19.0%) since the2013 census. There were 118,524 males, 121,185 females and 1,188 people ofother genders in 94,425 dwellings.[26] 4.3% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age 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.[23]
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 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 hadno religion were 60.3%, and 6.6% of people did not answer 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 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.[23]
The majority of the population of European lineage is ofScottish 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 theNgāi Tahuiwi or tribe. Other significant ethnic minorities include Asians, Pacific Islanders, Africans, Latin Americans and Middle Easterners.[27] 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 fromLebanon.[28] The region's Jewish population also experienced 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 theNetherlands.
In line with the region's Scottish heritage,Presbyterianism is the largest Christian denomination with 17.1 percent affiliating, whileCatholicism is the second-largest denomination with 11.5 percent affiliating.[29]
The seat of the Otago Regional Council is in Dunedin. The council is chaired by Andrew Noone as of July 2021[update].
There are fiveterritorial authorities in Otago:
Otago is represented by fourparliamentaryelectorates. Dunedin and nearby towns are represented by theDunedin electorate, held byRachel Brooking, and theTaieri electorate, occupied byIngrid Leary. Both MPs are members of the Labour Party, and Dunedin has traditionally been a Labour stronghold. Since 2008 the rest of Otago has been divided between the large rural electorates ofWaitaki, which also includes some of the neighbouringCanterbury Region, andClutha-Southland, which also includes most of the rural part of the neighbouring Southland Region. The Waitaki electorate has traditionally been aNational Party stronghold and is currently held byMiles Anderson. TheSouthland electorate, also a National Party stronghold, is currently represented byJoseph Mooney. The earlierOtago electorate existed from 1978 to 2008, when it was split and merged into Waitaki and Clutha-Southland.
Twolist MPs are based in Dunedin –Michael Woodhouse of the National Party andRachel Brooking of the Labour Party. One-time Labour Party Deputy LeaderDavid Parker is a former MP for the Otago electorate and currently a list MP.
Under theMāori electorates system, Otago is also part of the largeTe Tai Tonga electorate, which covers the entire South Island and surrounding islands, and is currently held by Te Pāti Māori Party MPTākuta Ferris.
Three of the 18Ngāi TahuRūnanga (councils) are based in the Otago Region. Each one is centred on a coastal marae, namelyŌtākou,Moeraki and Puketeraki atKaritane.[30] There is also the Arai Te Uru Marae in Dunedin.[31]
The subnational gross domestic product (GDP) of Otago was estimated at NZ$14.18 billion[32] 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%).[33]
Otago has 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 theNew Zealand wine industry began to expand rapidly. TheCentral Otago wine region produces wine made from varieties such as thePinot noir,Chardonnay,Sauvignon blanc,Merlot andRiesling grapes. It has an increasing reputation as New Zealand's leading Pinot noir region.[34]
Otago has numerous rural primary schools, several small town primary and secondary schools, and some larger schools inDunedin. Most are state schools which do not charge tuition, except for international students.[35][36] Some are state integrated schools, former private schools with 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 byPresbyterian Scottish settlers there are 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.
Otago travel guide from Wikivoyage
Media related toOtago Region at Wikimedia Commons| North Island |  | |
|---|---|---|
| South Island | ||
* Governed by aunitary authority rather than a regional council | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
45°52′50″S170°29′46″E / 45.88056°S 170.49611°E /-45.88056; 170.49611
