West Otago

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

West Otago is the local name given to part of the region of Otago, New Zealand, lying close to the border with Southland.[1] It is administratively connected to South Otago, but is geographically separated from it by a range of hills known as the Blue Mountains. The largest settlements in West Otago are Tapanui and Heriot, and other localities within the area include , Edievale, Crookston, , and . The area described as West Otago is sometimes extended to include Lawrence, Clinton, and Beaumont. The ghost town of Kelso also lies within West Otago.[2] Other notable features of the area include and Landslip Hill, the latter being a major fossil-bearing formation.

West Otago is connected to the New Zealand State Highway network by SH 90 , which runs north–south through the Pomahaka valley linking SH 1 near Gore and SH 8 at Raes Junction. The area was formerly also served by a rail branch line, the Tapanui Branch, which ran from 1880 until 1978.

European settlement in the area dates back to the 1850s.[3] Early settlers in the region included William Pinkerton, an Englishman who had been a runholder in Australia for over a decade, who first cleared land for farming around Tapanui in 1857.[4] A Scottish settler, Adam Oliver, and his wife Agnes, had settled further down the Pomahaka valley the previous year.[5] Prior to European arrival, the area was a Māori moa-hunting area, but had little if any permanent settlement.[6]

West Otago consists of rolling farmland and forested hills close to the Pomahaka River. Livestock farming (sheep and cattle) is a major industry in the area,[7] and Tapanui is historically a forestry centre.[8]

Demographics[]

The West Otago statistical area, which is identical in area to the West Otago ward of Clutha District, covers 1,374.56 km2 (530.72 sq mi)[9] and had an estimated population of 2,390 as of June 2021,[10] with a population density of 2 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,232—    
20132,169−0.41%
20182,289+1.08%
Source: [11]

West Otago had a population of 2,289 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 120 people (5.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (2.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 909 households. There were 1,182 males and 1,107 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 40.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 507 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 351 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,062 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 366 (16.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.8% European/Pākehā, 10.6% Māori, 0.7% Pacific peoples, 2.8% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 10.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.5% had no religion, 37.0% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 237 (13.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 399 (22.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 243 people (13.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,014 (56.9%) people were employed full-time, 318 (17.8%) were part-time, and 24 (1.3%) were unemployed.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ McKinnon, Malcolm (29 July 2015). "Otago places – West Otago and Teviot Valley". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  2. ^ Weaver, G., "Ghost towns haunt the southern region", Southland Times, 13 July 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  3. ^ Crean, M., "Farming and fortunes", The Press (Christchurch), 31 January 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. ^ Miller 1954, p. 2.
  5. ^ Miller 1954, p. 5.
  6. ^ Roe, S., (2018). Tuapeka – A walk through time. Balclutha, NZ: Clutha Print. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-473-43675-9.
  7. ^ Nicoll, D., "Stunning day delivers for West Otago A&P Show", Southland Times, 19 November 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  8. ^ Crean, M., "The town that branched out", The Press (Christchurch), 7 December 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  9. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. West Otago (355800). 2018 Census place summary: West Otago

Further reading[]

Coordinates: 45°56′35″S 169°15′40″E / 45.943°S 169.261°E / -45.943; 169.261

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