Our Environment
Geology
From gold bearing rivers and rocks in the south, to the world-renowned coastal Moeraki Boulders, to rare pillow lava around Oamaru and inland limestone escarpments, the district is geographically diverse and blessed with high quality natural materials. These features have spurred the growth of primary business ventures such as gold mining at Macraes Flat, quarrying of Oamaru Stone, production of lime plus quarrying of river stone. As well, some features form the basis for unique visitor attractions, such as at Elephant Rocks.
Climate and Weather
Coastal areas tend to have a delicate maritime climate with a small swing in temperature between summer and winter. Further inland the climate is more continental. Typically one can expect moderate temperatures of 15-23 deg C in summer (December-February), mild temperatures of 5-13 deg C in winter (June-August), with average rainfall of 500-600mm annually.
Waitaki River and tributaries
The mighty Waitaki River carves an impressive braided pathway down the Waitaki Valley to meet the Pacific Ocean at our northern border. As well as providing a significant portion of the nation's electricity supply, the river is also an important source for major irrigation schemes.
The Waitaki River's major tributaries are the Tekapo, Pukaki, Ohau, Ahuriri, Hakataramea and Otematata Rivers. The first three are glacier fed and drain the most northerly of the southern Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau.
The water catchment area is also home to a series of dams including Benmore, the second largest earth dam in the southern hemisphere. Power stations and dams are also found at Aviemore and Waitaki, with an outlet at Lake Tekapo and a control dam at Lake Pukaki.
Oamaru Stone
Oamaru Stone has been quarried for over 150 years. With its 98% Calcium Carbonate purity, its fine grained creamy white texture and freedom from joints and impurities, the excellence of Oamaru Stone as a building and sculpting material is world renowned. Oamaru Stone was used in the 1880s to build the grand neoclassical buildings that are the town's most distinguishing feature today.
