Destinations

About Waitaki

The first people to live in the region were Māori. The iwi Kāi Tahu (Ngāi Tahi) used the Waitaki River as a highway to move up and down the valley to fish and gather food. The Waitaki River provided direct access to the hinterlands of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) and was used as a crossroads to travel further to Te Manahuna (the Mackenzie Basin). Generations of Māori settled seasonally on the shores of the river and developed extensive knowledge of Waitaki and the land around it.

In the 1800s, European settlers arrived in the region and found there were no trees but an abundance of creamy white limestone that could be easily carved into the ornate buildings that reflected their heritage. Many of the limestone buildings you see today and the historic Victorian precinct of Ōamaru were built during the 19th and 20th century.

So, what are you waiting for?

Come discover the stories of the people who were shaped by the land they lived upon. From prehistoric fossils to Māori settlements to limestone buildings and modern art, Waitaki has it all.