Oamaru

​

SteampunkNZ Festival is held in the coastal town of Oamaru (pronounced Awe-ah-mah-roo) on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island. 

​

The local area was originally named Ma Kotukutuku, after the pa which was established atop the present Cape Wanbrow. The name Oamaru, meaning 'the breathe of Maru' or 'the place of Maru', originates from a Maori campsite established near Oamaru creek in around 1100AD and became the predominant name for the town when European settlers arrived in the mid-1800's.

​

The town of Oamaru, as we would come to recognise it, started out as a service-centre for the agricultural/pastoral area between the Kakanui Mountains and the Waitaki River, and rapidly became a major port that, at the time, exceeded San Fransisco in size! 

​

Alongside the Steampunk fame, Oamaru is known for it's pristinely kept Victorian Precinct, the Blue Penguin Colony, and the iconic limestone that makes up so much of the town's architecture. Many more of the town's and surrounding area's attractions can be found on the map below.

​

The Waitaki District

​

The Waitaki District spans an area of 7,148.05 km2 from the east coast of New Zealand's South Island to the boarder of the West Coast District, by the Hunter Valley. The population of the Waitaki District is 20,829, with the majority, 63%, living in the town of Oamaru and much of the economy in the Waitaki District is driven by family-owned farms. 

​

Notable geological landmarks are explained by Maori lore: tradition tells of the ancient people Kahui Tipua building a waka (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 and in the wreck eel baskets, calabashes and the Hawaikian kumara were washed up onto the shore at Moeraki where they became the boulders found on the shore. Arai Te Uru sank at Matakaea (Shag Point) where the petrified remaines turned into Danger Reef. A crew member, Pahihiwitahi, left the boat to search for water which he found at the Waitaki river. He failed to reach the wrecked Arai Te Uru before dawn, though, and his body 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.

​

If you have some spare time during your time in town why not explore the stunning scenery and historical marvels that the Waitaki District has to offer? See the map below for some ideas. You can also visit the Tourism Waitaki website for more information on the District here.