Owaka

Not to be confused with Okawa.

For the island in Tonga, see Ovaka.

Place in Otago, New Zealand

Owaka

Coordinates: 46°27′S 169°40′E﻿ / ﻿46.450°S 169.667°E﻿ / -46.450; 169.667
Country| New Zealand
Region| Otago
District| Clutha District
Ward| Catlins
Electorates|

* Southland
* Te Tai Tonga (Māori)

Government

• Territorial authority| Clutha District Council
• Regional council| Otago Regional Council
• Mayor of Clutha| Bryan Cadogan
• Southland MP| Joseph Mooney
• Te Tai Tonga MP| Tākuta Ferris
Area

[1]

• Total

| 0.76 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Population

(June 2024)[2]

• Total

| 330
• Density| 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Signposts

Owaka is a small town in the Clutha District of South Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest community in the rugged, forested Catlins area, close to the border with Southland, some 35 km (22 mi) south of Balclutha on the Southern Scenic Route.

## Geography

[edit]

Owaka lies 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north of Catlins Lake, an estuarial widening in the Catlins River which is largely mudflats at low tide. The mouth of the river, shared with the smaller Ōwaka River, lies 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the southeast of the town. The smaller settlement and holiday location of Pounawea is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Owaka on the estuary of the Catlins and Owaka rivers. The town lies on a river flat surrounded by hills - it is overlooked by the 103-metre (338 ft) Mount Misery, which lies immediately to the town's east.[3]

## History

[edit]

The town's name comes from the Māori for "the place of canoes",[4] a reference to the town's location close to the Ōwaka River, which joins the Catlins River three kilometres (2 miles) from the town, close to the coast. The town was originally called Catlins River, then Quakerfield.

On 22 June 1896, Owaka became the terminus of the Catlins River Branch railway, and it retained this status until an extension of the branch line to Ratanui was opened on 1 August 1904. The railway ultimately terminated in Tahakopa, but as traffic declined on the line in its later years, the Tuesday freight train (one of four per week) ran only as far as Owaka after 1958.

The branch closed on 27 February 1971, and little evidence of its existence remains in or around Owaka besides some of the line's old formation, as the last substantial relic, Owaka station's goods shed, was removed in 1986.

In November 1991, 15-year old Kylie Smith was abducted in Owaka and was raped and murdered by Paul Bailey. Bailey pled guilty in 1992, and was subsequently jailed for life, with a non-parole period of 10 years.[5] In 2021, his application for parole was denied and his next opportunity will be in 2023.[6] Bailey's offending had a substantial impact on the town at the time: the local pastor, who had assisted Bailey in gaining employment in Owaka, had his house vandalised, and a lynch mob threatened to burn down his church, whilst that same mob burned down Bailey's house.[7]

## Demographics

[edit]

Owaka is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.76 km2 (0.29 sq mi),[1] and had an estimated population of 330 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 434 people per km2. It is part of the much larger Catlins statistical area.[8]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 327| —
2013| 306| −0.94%
2018| 309| +0.20%
Source: [9]

Owaka had a population of 309 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (1.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 18 people (−5.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 141 households, comprising 153 males and 156 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 51 people (16.5%) aged under 15 years, 42 (13.6%) aged 15 to 29, 150 (48.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 69 (22.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 99.0% European/Pākehā, 14.6% Māori, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.0% had no religion, 23.3% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (8.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 84 (32.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 18 people (7.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 123 (47.7%) people were employed full-time, 39 (15.1%) were part-time, and 9 (3.5%) were unemployed.[9]

## Education

[edit]

The Catlins Area School is a co-educational state area school for Year 1 to 13 students,[10][11] with a roll of 123 as of November 2024.[12] The school opened in 1875 as Owaka District High School.[13][14]

## Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Owaka (1981–2010)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 19.1
(66.4)  | 18.9
(66.0)  | 17.4
(63.3)  | 15.6
(60.1)  | 12.8
(55.0)  | 10.5
(50.9)  | 10.2
(50.4)  | 11.5
(52.7)  | 13.5
(56.3)  | 14.8
(58.6)  | 16.3
(61.3)  | 17.5
(63.5)  | 14.8
(58.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | 14.3
(57.7)  | 13.8
(56.8)  | 12.3
(54.1)  | 10.1
(50.2)  | 8.2
(46.8)  | 6.0
(42.8)  | 5.6
(42.1)  | 6.7
(44.1)  | 8.4
(47.1)  | 9.8
(49.6)  | 11.4
(52.5)  | 12.8
(55.0)  | 10.0
(49.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 9.5
(49.1)  | 8.7
(47.7)  | 7.1
(44.8)  | 4.6
(40.3)  | 3.5
(38.3)  | 1.4
(34.5)  | 1.0
(33.8)  | 1.8
(35.2)  | 3.4
(38.1)  | 4.8
(40.6)  | 6.4
(43.5)  | 8.2
(46.8)  | 5.0
(41.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches)  | 94.0
(3.70)  | 69.3
(2.73)  | 84.9
(3.34)  | 54.6
(2.15)  | 96.0
(3.78)  | 87.3
(3.44)  | 100.2
(3.94)  | 59.2
(2.33)  | 64.2
(2.53)  | 76.3
(3.00)  | 54.8
(2.16)  | 86.9
(3.42)  | 927.7
(36.52)
Source: NIWA (rain 1971–2000)[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. ^ Owaka, Otago," NZtopomap.
4. ^ A W Reed (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. p. 375\. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
5. ^ "Man who raped and murdered 15-year-old schoolgirl 30 years ago denied parole". Stuff. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
6. ^ Hudson, Daisy (15 April 2021). "Another 2 years behind bars for Owaka teen's killer". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
7. ^ Skelton, Nadine; Porter, Chris. "BROKEN: The murder that ripped a town apart". interactives.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
8. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Catlins
9. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029109 and 7029111.
10. ^ "The Catlins Area School Official School Website". catlins.school.nz.
11. ^ "The Catlins Area School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
12. ^ "The Catlins Area School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
13. ^ "Magazines, newspaper clippings, Owaka District High School and Catlins Area School (record)". Owaka Museum Wahi Kahuika. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
14. ^ "Owaka waka unveiled as jubilee begins". Otago Daily Times. 10 February 2016.
15. ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database : Owaka 2". NIWA. Retrieved 19 May 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Clutha District, New Zealand

Seat: Balclutha

Populated places|

| Balclutha Ward|

* Balclutha
* Benhar
* Finegand
* Otanomomo
* Port Molyneux
* Stirling

|

Bruce Ward|

* Clarksville
* Glenledi
* Manuka Creek
* Milburn
* Milton
* Moneymore
* Taieri Mouth
* Toko Mouth
* Tokoiti
* Waihola

Catlins Ward|

* Caberfeidh
* Glenomaru
* Jack's Bay
* Kaka Point
* Maclennan
* Nugget Point
* Owaka
* Papatowai
* Pounawea
* Pūerua
* Romahapa
* Tahakopa
* Tahora
* Tautuku

Clinton Ward|

* Clinton
* Waiwera South

Clutha Valley Ward|

* Clydevale

Kaitangata-Matau Ward|

* Inch Clutha
* Kaitangata
* Wangaloa

Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward|

* Beaumont
* Blue Spur
* Gabriel's Gully
* Lawrence
* Waitahuna

West Otago Ward|

* Crookston
* Edievale
* Heriot
* Kelso
* Tapanui

Geographic features|

* Cathedral Caves
* Catlins Ranges
* Catlins River
* McLean Falls
* Molyneux Bay
* Nugget Point
* Tahakopa River
* Ōwaka River
* Purakaunui Falls
* Mount Pye (New Zealand)
* Tautuku Peninsula
* Tautuku River
* Tokomairaro River
* Lake Waihola
* Lake Waipori

Facilities and attractions|

* Balclutha Aerodrome
* Balclutha Road Bridge
* Catlins Conservation Park
* Catlins River Branch
* Nugget Point Lighthouse
* Wreck of the Surat

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

Organisations|

* Big River Radio
* South Otago High School
* Telford
* Tokomairiro High School

History|

* Kaitangata Mine disaster

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template