Omarama: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Town in the South Island of New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

| official_name = Omarama

| settlement_type native_name = Town{{lang-mi|Ōmarama}}

| mottosettlement_type = Town
| motto = The Place of Light

| image_skyline = Omarama_NewZealand.JPG

| pushpin_map =

| image_map = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|44|29|0|S|169|58|0|E}}|zoom=6}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]

| subdivision_name = New Zealand

| subdivision_name1 = [[Canterbury, New ZealandRegion|Canterbury]]

| subdivision_type2 = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]]

| subdivision_name2 = [[Waitaki District]]

| subdivision_type3 = Ward

| subdivision_name3 = Ahuriri Ward

| leader_title2 seat_type = Regional councilElectorates

| leader_name2 seat = {{ubl|[[EnvironmentWaitaki Canterbury(New Zealand electorate)|Waitaki]]|[[Te Tai Tonga]] (Māori)}}

| utc_offsetleader_title = {{nowrap|Territorial = +12authority}}

| timezone leader_name = [[New ZealandWaitaki StandardDistrict Time|NZSTCouncil]]

| timezone_DST leader_title1 = [[New Zealand DaylightRegional Time|NZDT]]council

| utc_offset_DSTleader_name1 = [[Environment = +13Canterbury]]

| population_totalleader_title3 = [[Waitaki (New Zealand electorate)|Waitaki = 291MP]]

| population_as_ofleader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waitaki = 2018 CensusMP|y}}

| area_total_km2leader_title4 = [[Te Tai Tonga|Te Tai Tonga = 8.30MP]]

| area_footnotesleader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga = <ref name="Area"/>MP|y}}

| population_density_km2utc_offset = auto+12

| blank_nametimezone = [[New Zealand Standard = Local [[iwiTime|NZST]]

| blank_info timezone_DST = [[NgāiNew Zealand Daylight TahuTime|NZDT]]

| name utc_offset_DST = +13

'''Omarama''' ({{lang-mi|Ōmarama}}) is a small town (population 291 atas of the 2018 census) at the junction of [[New Zealand State Highway 8 (New Zealand)|State Highways 8]] and [[New Zealand State Highway 83|83]], near the southern end of the [[Mackenzie Basin]], in the [[South Island]] of [[New Zealand]]. Omarama is in the [[Waitaki District]], in the southern Canterbury region. The [[Ahuriri River]] is a short distance to the north of the township. Omarama is 30&nbsp;km (20 minutes drive) southwest of [[Twizel]], 40&nbsp;km (30 minutes drive) southeast of [[Lake Ōhau]] and 32&nbsp;km (21 minutes drive) northeast of the [[Lindis Pass]].

Omarama is described as a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand, and covers {{Convert|8.30|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=25 November 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Omarama|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Omarama|y}}|R}}/8.30|0}} people per km². It is part of the larger Aviemore statistical area.

Omarama had a population of 291 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 21 people (7.8%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 60 people (26.0%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 111 households., There werecomprising 147 males and 144 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female, with 27 people (9.3%) aged under 15 years, 54 (18.6%) aged 15 to 29, 147 (50.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (22.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 78.4% European/[[Pākehā]], 4.1% [[Māori people|Māori]], 14.4% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 4.1% other ethnicities. (totalsPeople addmay toidentify with more than 100%one since people could identify with multiple ethnicities)ethnicity.

Although some people objectedchose not to givinganswer theirthe religioncensus's question about religious affiliation, 54.6% had no religion, 30.9% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 2.1% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.0% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 39 (14.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 42 (15.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 42 people (15.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 159 (60.2%) people were employed full-time, and 42 (15.9%) were part-time.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7027642 and 7027643}}</ref>

The Aviemore statistical area, which also includes [[Otematata]], covers {{Convert|3483.8890|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area"/> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 20182023 SA2|Aviemore|y}} as of {{NZ population data 20182023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 20182023 SA2|Aviemore|y}}|R}}/3483.8890|02}} people per km².

Aviemore had a population of 765 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 63 people (9.0%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 96 people (14.3%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 324 households., There werecomprising 411 males and 357 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.15 males per female. The median age was 46.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 99 people (12.9%) aged under 15 years, 138 (18.0%) aged 15 to 29, 360 (47.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 168 (22.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.7% European/[[Pākehā]], 5.5% [[Māori people|Māori]], 0.8% Pacific[[Pasifika peoplesNew Zealanders|Pasifika]], 8.6% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 3.1% other ethnicities. (totalsPeople addmay toidentify with more than 100% since people couldone identify with multiple ethnicities)ethnicity.

The proportionpercentage of people born overseas was 20.8%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objectedchose not to givinganswer theirthe religioncensus's question about religious affiliation, 53.7% had no religion, 36.9% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 2.0% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.2% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 0.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 90 (13.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 105 (15.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 93 people (14.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 411 (61.7%) people were employed full-time, 93 (14.0%) were part-time, and 3 (0.5%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018 A">{{NZ census 2018|Aviemore (343100)|aviemore|Aviemore}}</ref>

Pilots come to Omarama to experience strong [[lee wave]] conditions, ridge soaring and thermal flying. It is common for Omarama-based gliders to soar hundreds of kilometerskilometres along the Southern Alps each day. In ideal conditions, it is possible for gliders to reach distances in excess of 2000&nbsp;km. Several national and world gliding records have been achieved from Omarama,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tollan|first1=Jeff|title=Gliding on to a world record|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3155973/Gliding-on-to-a-world-record|access-date=9 April 2017|work=STUFF|date=14 December 2009}}</ref> and the prevailing conditions have attracted record seekers such as [[Steve Fossett]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Marty|title=Updraft|url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/updraft/|website=New Zealand Geographic|access-date=9 April 2017}}</ref>

The Omarama Gliding Club and several commercial gliding organizationsorganisations are based in the town.

There are three [[skifield]]s within the MacKenzie Basin; [[OhauŌhau (skifield)|OhauŌhau]], [[Roundhill Ski Area|Round Hill]], and [[Mount Dobson]].

Omarama is a popular holiday destination amongst those living in surrounding districts and provinces, many owning family holiday residences within the village. [[Tramping in New Zealand|Tramping]] is also popular with locals and visitors alike, due to the spectacular and often rugged landscape. Due to the spectacular scenery, numerous artists regularly visit the Omarama area, and several are now permanent residents, exhibiting their Omarama and Mackenzie landscapes and other work in local galleries and further afield.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Omarama School was first built on Buscot Station in the 1930s. It was moved to its present site on State Highway 8 in Omarama during the 1940s. As a result of people moving to work at the local hydro electricity development, Omarama School increased in size to a four-teacher school in the late 1980s. Today, 2.5 FTE of teachers teach at the school and its catchment area serves Omarama and a wide area of the Upper Waitaki high country. Omarama School caters for new entrants to Year 8 children with two classrooms, a school library and a covered solar heated pool on a 11938 square metre site.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Omarama School - About Us|url=https://sites.google.com/omarama.school.nz/omarama-school/about-us|access-date=2020-09-17|website=sites.google.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{TKI|3789|Omarama School}}</ref> Omarama School has a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3789|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

In his novel ''[[The Zombie Survival Guide]]'', Max Brooks of ''[[World War Z]]'' fame makes reference to Omarama as site of a historical zombie attack.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}