Otago
Otago is a
region of New Zealand in the south-east of the
South Island. It measures approximately 32,000 km² (12,350
mi²) in area, making it the second-largest region. In the
2001 census it had a population of 181,542.
The name "Otago" anglicises the
Kai Tahu Māori dialect name "Otakou". The village of
Otakou on the
Otago Peninsula served as a
whaling base during early years of
European economic interest in the east coast of
Murihiku around
1840.
The Otago Settlement, sponsored by the
Free Church of Scotland, materialised in March
1848 with the arrival of the first two immigrant ships from
Greenock on the
Firth of Clyde -- the
John Wickliffe and the
Philip Laing. Captain
William Cargill, a veteran of the
Peninsular War, served as the colony's first leader: Otago citizens subsequently elected him to the office of Superintendent.
Initial settlement concentrated on port and city, then expanded, notably to the south-west, where the fertile
Taieri Plains offered good farmland.The
1860s saw rapid commercial expansion after
Gabriel Read discovered gold at
Gabriel's Gully near
Lawrence, and the
Central Otago goldrush ensued. 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, swamping its Scottish
Presbyterian character. Further gold discoveries at
Clyde and on the Arrow River round
Arrowtown led to a boom, and Otago became for a period the cultural and economic centre of New Zealand, if not of
Australasia. New Zealand's first daily
newspaper, the
Otago Daily Times, originally edited by
Julius Vogel, dates from this period.
The
Province of
Southland separated from Otago and set up its own Provincial Council at
Invercargill in
1861. After difficulties ensued, Otago re-absorbed it in
1870, but for local government purposes Southland is a separate
region.
Provincial government in New Zealand ceased in
1876, and the national limelight gradually shifted northwards. The colony divided itself into counties in
1876, two in Otago being named after the Scottish independence heroes
Wallace and
Bruce.
Major centres include
Dunedin,
Oamaru (made famous by
Janet Frame),
Balclutha, and the tourist attractions
Queenstown,
Alexandra, and
Wanaka.
Kaitangata in
South Otago provides a prominent
coal source.
New Zealand's first university, The
University of Otago, was founded in 1869 as the provincial university in
Dunedin.
Central Otago area produces excellent quality wine made from the Pinot Noir grape.
The Otago electorate is currently represented in parliament by Jacqui Dean of the National Party.
*
Flag of Otago*
Otago Daily Times Newspaper*
Otago Regional Council*
Otago Peninsula*
Otago Rugby Football Union*
Otago New Zealand,Everything about Otago*
Otago Polytechnic*
The University of Otago
