North Otago is an area in
New Zealand that covers the area of the
Otago region between
Shag Point and the
Waitaki River, and extends inland to the west as far as the village of
Omarama (which has experienced rapid growth as a developing centre for
astronomy and for
gliding).
Geography
Prominent rivers include the Shag, the Waianakarua, the
Kakanui River and the
Waitaki River. The Kakanui Mountains form the principal cordillera, rising at their highest point, Mount Pisgah, to . These are separated from the lower, parallel Horse Range by the upper valleys of the Waianakarua and Shag rivers.
The large east-coast town of Oamaru serves as North Otago's main centre. Other towns and settlements in the region include Alma, Totara, Teschemakers, Reidston, Maheno, Kakanui, Herbert (also known as Otepopo), Waianakarua, Hampden, and Moeraki, all on or close to the coast south of Oamaru. The coastal plain north of Oamaru has the settlements of Hilderthorpe and Pukeuri.
Inland settlements include Weston, Ardgowan, Windsor, Five Forks, Peebles, Papakaio, Duntroon, Kurow (on the south bank of the Waitaki), Omarama, and Otematata.
History and economy
The area aspired to provincial status in the 19th century, but never attained it. Most of its territory belonged to the Waitaki County, and today is officially part of the
Waitaki District. Some sense of regional identity survives in support of sport, notably the North Otago rugby team. In 1989, the northwestern part of the area, including the towns of Omarama, Otematata, Kurow, and Duntroon, officially became part of Canterbury region, testing this sense of identity and raising the ire of many locals.
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The rolling, tussock grass-clad hill country of North Otago provides the important agricultural base,
