22-672: 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 . Owaka lies 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north of Catlins Lake, an estuarial widening in the Catlins River which
44-413: A lynch mob threatened to burn down his church, whilst that same mob burned down Bailey's house. Owaka is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.76 km (0.29 sq mi), and had an estimated population of 330 as of June 2024, with a population density of 434 people per km. It is part of the much larger Catlins statistical area . Owaka had a population of 309 at
66-437: A population of 19,300 as of June 2024, with a population density of 3.0 people per km . Clutha District had a population of 18,315 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 648 people (3.7%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 1,425 people (8.4%) since the 2013 census . There were 9,528 males, 8,745 females and 42 people of other genders in 7,386 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age
88-702: Is Bryan Cadogan , who defeated incumbent mayor Juno Hayes in the 2010 local body elections , and retained the mayoralty in the 2013 , 2016 , 2019 and 2022 elections . The current deputy mayor is Ken Payne. The most populous town in Clutha District is Balclutha , which lies 81 km south of Dunedin by road. Balclutha's population was 4,430 in June 2024. Other towns are Milton (pop. 2,270), Kaitangata , Tapanui , Lawrence , Owaka , Stirling , Clinton , Kaka Point , and Benhar . Clutha District covers 6,334.54 km (2,445.78 sq mi) and had
110-501: 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
132-567: 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
154-521: The Otago town of Balclutha . Clutha District has a land area of 6,334.47 km (2,445.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 19,300 as of June 2024. Clutha District occupies the majority of the geographical area known as South Otago . The geography of the Clutha District is dominated by the valley of the Clutha River , which flows southeast from the lakes of Central Otago , bisecting
176-622: The Otago Regional Council , based in Dunedin. Clutha District was formerly composed of three separate counties (Clutha, Bruce, and Tuapeka), and two boroughs (Balclutha and Milton ). These were amalgamated into one district authority in 1989 as part of a nationwide reorganisation of local government. Bruce, an area surrounding Milton, and including the Tokomairaro Plains, had an area of 1,357 km². It included
198-604: The 12 city councils , the Auckland Council , and the Chatham Islands Council . District councils serve a combination of rural and urban communities, while city councils administer the larger urban areas . Three districts ( Gisborne , Tasman , and Marlborough ) are unitary authorities also performing the functions of a regional council. Districts are not subdivisions of regions, and some of them fall within more than one region. Taupō District has
220-637: The Clutha District and reaching the Pacific Ocean via two river mouths, one of which is not far from Kaitangata , the other is closer to Kaka Point. The two branches of the river (the Matau and the Kouau) form the island of Inch Clutha . To the south of this is the rough bush country of the Catlins , with its forests and rugged coastline. To the north of the Clutha valley is mainly rolling hill country, with
242-564: 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 ,
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#1732787093733264-418: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 1,545 (10.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 8,538 (57.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 4,386 (29.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 39,000, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 936 people (6.3%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
286-410: 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
308-418: The distinction of straddling the boundaries of four different regions. Regional council areas are based on water catchment areas, whereas district council areas are based on community of interest and road access. Regional councils are responsible for the administration of many environmental and public transport matters, while the district councils administer local roads and reserves, sewerage, building consents,
330-722: The plain of the Tokomairaro River to the northeast, along with Lake Waihola and Lake Waipori , which are part of the catchment of the Taieri River . The Waipori River , the Taieri's largest tributary, forms the northeastern border of Clutha District. Clutha District is under the local body administration of the Clutha District Council, based in Balclutha. It is administered at a regional level by
352-561: The town's east. The town's name comes from the Māori for "the place of canoes", 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
374-603: The townships of Waihola , Milburn and Waitahuna . Clutha, which included the delta of the Clutha River and extended down the Catlins coast, had an area of 2,664.5 km². It included the townships of Kaitangata , Stirling , Owaka , and Benhar . The remaining area, Tuapeka, was centred on Lawrence , and included the inland valleys of the Clutha River and its tributaries the Pomahaka River and Tuapeka River . It had an area of 2,323 km². The current mayor
396-562: Was 42.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3,408 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 2,943 (16.1%) aged 15 to 29, 8,436 (46.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 3,528 (19.3%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.9% European ( Pākehā ); 13.9% Māori ; 3.7% Pasifika ; 4.5% Asian ; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
418-549: 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. In 2021, his application for parole was denied and his next opportunity will be in 2023. 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
440-541: Was spoken by 97.4%, Māori language by 2.2%, Samoan by 1.8% and other languages by 5.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.8, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 30.2% Christian , 0.3% Hindu , 0.4% Islam , 0.4% Māori religious beliefs , 0.5% Buddhist , 0.5% New Age , and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.2%, and 8.6% of people did not answer
462-426: Was that 123 (47.7%) people were employed full-time, 39 (15.1%) were part-time, and 9 (3.5%) were unemployed. The Catlins Area School is a co-educational state area school for Year 1 to 13 students, with a roll of 118 as of August 2024. The school opened in 1875 as Owaka District High School. Clutha District Clutha District is a local government district of southern New Zealand , with its headquarters in
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#1732787093733484-586: Was that 7,812 (52.4%) people were employed full-time, 2,184 (14.7%) were part-time, and 285 (1.9%) were unemployed. Districts of New Zealand A district in New Zealand is a territorial authority area governed by a district council as a second-tier of local government in New Zealand , below regional councils . They were formed as a result of the local government reforms in 1989 . There are 53 districts in New Zealand , and they do not include
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