Otautau

Otautau
Former courthouse; now the Otautau Museum
Former courthouse; now the Otautau Museum
Map
Coordinates: 46°08′34″S 167°59′59″E / 46.14278°S 167.99972°E / -46.14278; 167.99972
CountryNew Zealand
IslandSouth Island
RegionSouthland region
Territorial authorities of New ZealandSouthland District
WardWaiau Aparima Ward
CommunityWallace Takitimu Community
Otautau1872
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authoritySouthland District Council
 • Regional councilSouthland Regional Council
 • Mayor of SouthlandRob Scott
 • Invercargill MPPenny Simmonds
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total2.60 km2 (1.00 sq mi)
Elevation
60 m (200 ft)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total810
 • Density310/km2 (810/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12:00 (NZST)
Postal code
9610 (rural: 9682 9683 9689) [3]
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Otautau is a small farming, forestry and milling town located inland on the western edge of the Southland Plains of New Zealand on the banks of the Aparima River.[4] Otautau is located approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) north west of Invercargill. The average elevation of Otautau is 60 metres.[5]

Otautau is also known as "The Heart of Western Southland" as can be seen on the roadside sign photo below. Otautau township has one building registered with Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand.[6] This is the historic courthouse building in Main Street from 1908, which currently houses the district's small museum and some archives from local institutions and businesses.[7]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of [an] ear pendant" for the name Ōtautau.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Suggest an Address".
  4. ^ Google Maps – Otautau.
  5. ^ "Mongabay – Population Profile (Otautau)".
  6. ^ "Otautau Courthouse (Former) | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Otautau Museum on NZ Museums". eHive. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  8. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.