Otematata
Town in the Waitaki District of Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island
title: "Otematata" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["waitaki-district", "populated-places-in-the-canterbury-region", "populated-lakeshore-places-in-new-zealand"] description: "Town in the Waitaki District of Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island" topic_path: "geography/new-zealand" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otematata" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Town in the Waitaki District of Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Otematata |
| native_name_lang | |
| settlement_type | Town |
| image_skyline | Otematata Main Street.JPG |
| image_caption | New Zealand State Highway 83 passing through Otematata |
| mapframe | yes |
| mapframe-zoom | 6 |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | New Zealand |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_name1 | Canterbury |
| subdivision_type2 | Territorial authority |
| subdivision_name2 | Waitaki District |
| subdivision_type3 | Ward |
| subdivision_name3 | Ahuriri Ward |
| subdivision_type4 | Community |
| subdivision_name4 | Ahuriri Community |
| seat_type | Electorates |
| seat | |
| leader_title | Territorial authority |
| leader_name | Waitaki District Council |
| leader_title1 | Regional council |
| leader_name1 | Environment Canterbury |
| leader_title2 | Mayor of Waitaki |
| leader_name2 | |
| leader_title3 | Waitaki MP |
| leader_name3 | |
| leader_title4 | Te Tai Tonga MP |
| leader_name4 | |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | |
| population_as_of | |
| area_total_km2 | 2.43 |
| area_footnotes | |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| timezone1 | New Zealand Standard Time |
| utc_offset1 | +12 |
| timezone1_DST | New Zealand Daylight Time |
| utc_offset1_DST | +13 |
| postal_code_type | Postcode |
| postal_code | 9412 |
| blank_name | Local iwi |
| blank_info | Ngāi Tahu |
| :: |
| name = Otematata | native_name = | native_name_lang = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Otematata Main Street.JPG | image_alt = | image_caption = New Zealand State Highway 83 passing through Otematata | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 6 | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Canterbury | subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority | subdivision_name2 = Waitaki District | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Ahuriri Ward | subdivision_type4 = Community | subdivision_name4 = Ahuriri Community | seat_type = Electorates | seat = | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = Waitaki District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Environment Canterbury | leader_title2 = Mayor of Waitaki | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = Waitaki MP | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = Te Tai Tonga MP | leader_name4 = | established_title = | established_date = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_as_of = | area_total_km2 = 2.43 | area_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone1 = New Zealand Standard Time | utc_offset1 = +12 | timezone1_DST = New Zealand Daylight Time | utc_offset1_DST = +13 | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = 9412 | area_code_type = | area_code = | website = | blank_name = Local iwi | blank_info = Ngāi Tahu | footnotes = | official_name = Otematata is a town in the Waitaki District of Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island. It is defined as a "populated area less than a town" and the 2001 New Zealand census gave the "usually resident population count" as 243. By the 2018 census it had declined to 183 inhabitants. This was considerably higher in the 1960s during the construction of the Benmore and Aviemore dams.
Surrounded by rugged peaks and beautiful lakes of the Waitaki Valley, the earliest inhabitants of the area were Māori on hunting expeditions or travelling through the valley to reach the inland areas and mountain passes. Otematata in Māori means "place of good flint".
The Otematata township was built in 1958 as a base for the construction of the Aviemore and Benmore Dams. ECNZ (Electricity Corporation of New Zealand) used it as a base until the early 1990s. Prior to that there were a few 'high country' sheep stations, Rostiever Run owned by the Munro family and Otematata Station owned by the Cameron family.
ECNZ's successors' presence is now minimal as the dams are operated by remote control, and Otematata is becoming a village of holiday homes. It is a popular holiday destination with a hotel, restaurant, camping ground, backpackers, and other basic services. The townships population swells to over 5000 people in the Christmas and New Year holiday season as holiday makers from around New Zealand come to enjoy the lakes. Water skiing is a popular pastime in the Waitaki Valley.
Climate
Like many inland areas, Otematata has weather that ranges from very cold in winter to very hot in summer. In the past 14 years, temperatures have ranged from 37.5 °C to −8.5 °C, with annual rainfall ranging from 275mm to 563mm.
|metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Otematata (1951–1980) | Jan high C = 23.6 | Feb high C = 23.3 | Mar high C = 20.9 | Apr high C = 17.0 | May high C = 12.0 | Jun high C = 8.3 | Jul high C = 7.9 | Aug high C = 10.8 | Sep high C = 14.9 | Oct high C = 17.5 | Nov high C = 19.4 | Dec high C = 21.8 | year high C = | Jan mean C = 17.1 | Feb mean C = 16.8 | Mar mean C = 14.7 | Apr mean C = 11.2 | May mean C = 7 | Jun mean C = 3.9 | Jul mean C = 3.2 | Aug mean C = 5.3 | Sep mean C = 8.7 | Oct mean C = 11.3 | Nov mean C = 13.2 | Dec mean C = 15.4 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 10.5 | Feb low C = 10.3 | Mar low C = 9.1 | Apr low C = 5.8 | May low C = 2.1 | Jun low C = -0.6 | Jul low C = -1.2 | Aug low C = 0.3 | Sep low C = 2.9 | Oct low C = 5.2 | Nov low C = 7.0 | Dec low C = 9.3 | year low C = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 47 |Feb rain mm = 36 |Mar rain mm = 43 |Apr rain mm = 38 |May rain mm = 35 |Jun rain mm = 28 |Jul rain mm = 27 |Aug rain mm = 23 |Sep rain mm = 31 |Oct rain mm = 39 |Nov rain mm = 44 |Dec rain mm = 39 |year rain mm = |source 1 = NIWA{{cite web |url = https://data.niwa.co.nz/ |title = NIWA Datahub (Agent number: 5116) |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 20 Nov 2024}}
Demographics
Otematata is described as a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand, and covers 2.43 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the larger Aviemore statistical area.
Otematata had a population of 183 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−1.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 6 people (−3.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 96 households, comprising 96 males and 84 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.14 males per female. The median age was 58.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 9 people (4.9%) aged under 15 years, 27 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 78 (42.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (36.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.5% European/Pākehā, 8.2% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, and 6.6% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.2% had no religion, 44.3% were Christian, and 1.6% were Buddhist.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (6.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 39 (22.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 24 people (13.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 87 (50.0%) people were employed full-time, and 24 (13.8%) were part-time.
File:Otematata Holiday Park & Lodge.JPG|The Otematata Holiday Park and Lodge. File:Benmore Dam Spillway.JPG|The Benmore Dam spillway in full force. File:Lake Aviemore at it's best..jpg|A spring day on Lake Aviemore.
References
References
- {{LINZ. 10105. 29 May 2007
- Statistics New Zealand, [http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/commprofiles.nsf/htmldocs/Otematata+Community+Profile Otematata Community Profile] {{Webarchive. link. (3 March 2016 , accessed 29 May 2007.)
- "Maori Place Names – What do they mean?". Art and Tels diary of New Zealand.
- "Otematata's weather monitoring station".
- "ArcGIS Web Application".
- {{NZ census place summary 2018. aviemore. Aviemore
- {{NZ census 2018. 7027647
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