Oban, New Zealand
Oban
Pā nui o Hau ( Rob Scott | |
---|---|
• Invercargill MP | Penny Simmonds |
• Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
Area | |
• Total | 2.59 km2 (1.00 sq mi) |
Population (June 2023)[2] | |
• Total | 330 |
• Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) |
Oban is the principal settlement on Stewart Island / Rakiura, the southernmost inhabited island of the New Zealand archipelago. Oban is located on Halfmoon Bay (sometimes used as an alternative name for the town), on Paterson Inlet. It has aircraft connections with Invercargill and a ferry service to Bluff.
The settlement was named after Oban in Scotland,[3] (An t-Òban in Scottish Gaelic, meaning The Little Bay), due to the strong influence Scottish settlers had in the south of early colonial New Zealand.
The island has received a moderate boost of commerce and some millions in government funding since tourism increased markedly after the opening of the Rakiura National Park.[4]
It is possible to see
Demographics
Oban is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 2.59 km2 (1.00 sq mi),
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 291 | — |
2013 | 273 | −0.91% |
2018 | 300 | +1.90% |
Source: [10] |
Oban had a population of 300 at the
Ethnicities were 92.0% European/Pākehā, 19.0% Māori, 1.0% Pasifika, 1.0% Asian, 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, 65.0% had no religion, 26.0% were Christian, 1.0% were Buddhist and 3.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 66 (24.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 45 (16.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 39 people (14.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 150 (56.2%) people were employed full-time, 42 (15.7%) were part-time, and 3 (1.1%) were unemployed.[10]
Climate
The
Climate data for Oban (1975–2015, Rainfall 1917–2015) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 27.0 (80.6) |
28.5 (83.3) |
26.5 (79.7) |
29.0 (84.2) |
19.8 (67.6) |
17.5 (63.5) |
16.0 (60.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
21.3 (70.3) |
23.9 (75.0) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.2 (81.0) |
29.0 (84.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) |
17.1 (62.8) |
15.9 (60.6) |
14.2 (57.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
10.1 (50.2) |
9.9 (49.8) |
10.7 (51.3) |
12.2 (54.0) |
13.4 (56.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.1 (61.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.4 (56.1) |
13.3 (55.9) |
12.1 (53.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
8.8 (47.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
6.3 (43.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
8.4 (47.1) |
9.5 (49.1) |
10.8 (51.4) |
12.4 (54.3) |
9.9 (49.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) |
9.4 (48.9) |
8.3 (46.9) |
7.0 (44.6) |
5.5 (41.9) |
3.4 (38.1) |
2.7 (36.9) |
3.5 (38.3) |
4.5 (40.1) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | 1.0 (33.8) |
1.2 (34.2) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−2 (28) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
−6 (21) |
−3 (27) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 133.9 (5.27) |
109.8 (4.32) |
128.2 (5.05) |
132.1 (5.20) |
139.9 (5.51) |
136.9 (5.39) |
113.3 (4.46) |
106.2 (4.18) |
120.9 (4.76) |
134.1 (5.28) |
132.4 (5.21) |
116.4 (4.58) |
1,489.6 (58.65) |
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 15.3 | 13.6 | 15.4 | 16.0 | 17.9 | 17.8 | 17.0 | 16.5 | 16.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 16.1 | 195.5 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
84.3 | 87.4 | 87.4 | 89.4 | 91.1 | 90.9 | 91.3 | 89.9 | 85.0 | 84.3 | 81.6 | 82.6 | 85.8 |
Source: CliFlo[12] |
Rakiura Museum
The Rakiura Museum was first opened in 1960 in a converted house. It was reopened in December 2020 in a purpose-built $3 million building in December 2020. it contains artifacts and displays including the history of whaling and sealing around Stewart Island, boat building, Maori settlement and natural history of Stewart Island.[13][14]
Education
Halfmoon Bay School / Te Kura o Rakiura caters for years 1 to 8[15] with a roll of 38 students as of February 2024.[16] The school was established in 1874.[17]
Churches
Oban Presbyterian Church
The Oban Presbyterian Church was built in 1904. Electric lighting was installed in 1957.[18] it is located on Kamahi Road and overlooks Halfmoon Bay. The church did not have a resident minister in 2023 but has regular visiting preachers.[19]
St Andrews Anglican Church
St Andrews Anglican Church is situated at 10 Excelsior Road, Oban. Prince Harry visited St Andrews in 2015.[20]
References
- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
- ^ Scottish Place Names Around the World – Fife to Oban (from 'rampantscotland.com'. Accessed 11 October 2008.)
- ^ "Stewart Island gets $5.6m cash boost". The New Zealand Herald. APN Holdings. NZPA. 12 July 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ "I heard you like the wild ones: Stewart Island's native wildlife". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Hooper, Laura (10 June 2022). "Stewart Island infested with rats". Stuff. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Beckham, Allison (12 September 2015). "Pest-free plan has big price tag". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Steyl, Louisa (30 April 2021). "Jobs for Nature creates 81 new jobs for Southland". Stuff. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ island 2018 Census place summary: Stewart Island
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029380–7029382.
- ^ "Oban Climate:Average temperature by month, Oban water temperature". Climate data. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database". NIWA. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ^ "New museum set to open on Stewart Island Rakiura". RNZ. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "Matariki: Aotearoa's time to shine". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Education Counts: Halfmoon Bay School
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Halfmoon Bay School (Stewart Island/Rakiura, N.Z.)". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Oban Presbyterian Parish, Stewart Island". Presbyterian Research Centre. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "Oban Presbyterian Church". www.stewartisland.co.nz. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
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