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Māori settlements in Oamaru

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 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 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, Arai Te Uru, which sailed from southern New Zealand to the ancestral Polynesian homeland, Hawaiki, to obtain kumara. On its return it became waterlogged off 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 the fact that kumara will not grow south of Banks Peninsula.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oamaru

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Early European Contact in Oamaru

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 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 a perpendicular rocky cliff next to the sea.”

Pukuheke’s party killed and ate these as well. The Pākehā, a party from the Matilda (Captain Fowler), under 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 pa (fortified settlement) at Kaiapoi near modern Christchurch in 1831, refugees came south and gained permission to settle at Kakaunui (Kakanui), and the territory between Pukeuri and Waianakarua, including the site of urban Oamaru, became their domain.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oamaru

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Demographics of Oamaru

Oamaru is described by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area, which covers 21.46 km² (8.29 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 13,850 as of June 2021, with a population density of 645 people per km².

Oamaru had a population of 13,107 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 801 people (6.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,077 people (9.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 5,463 households. There were 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% Pacific peoples, 4.7% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 15.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 45.4% had no religion, 43.6% were Christian, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,242 (11.5%) people had a bachelor 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 was that 4,668 (43.3%) people were employed full-time, 1,545 (14.3%) were part-time, and 312 (2.9%) were unemployed.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oamaru

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Recreation in Oamaru

The beautiful Oamaru Opera House officially opened on October 7, 1907, on Thames Street is home of much of Oamaru performance and live entertainment. Having been 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 places 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 the Waitaki District Libraries syndicate)

The Oamaru Public Library began its life with the Oamaru Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute in 1878, by 1973 however, library services had outgrown the building. A new library building was proposed, situated next-door to the ‘old’ Athenaeum library and, on the 19th September 1975, the new library was officially opened by the Mayor, Mr R.D.Allen. Oamaru Repertory Theatre is located on Itchen Street and is the home of Oamaru’s live theatre productions.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oamaru