Ohai
- This article discusses the New Zealand town of Ohai. ʻŌhai (Sesbania tomentosa) is also a native Hawaiian plant.
Ohаi is a town in the Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island, 65 kilometres northwest of Invercargill and 25 kilometres west of Winton. The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings gave its population as 399, a decline of 22.2% or 114 people since the 1996 census.[1][2]
The literal meaning of Ohаi is unclear, but Ohai means "place of the stone" and this name was in use for the area before the coal mining or town was established. It has been noted that Morley stream near the town was previously called Ohai.[3] It is likely that the area was originally named in relation to a Maori stone quarry that is nearby.[4]
Ohai is notable for the production of coal. In order to provide convenient transport of the coal to markets beyond the local area, a privately owned railway extension from the New Zealand Railways Department's Wairio Branch was opened by the Ohai Railway Board in January 1925. In 1934, this line was further extended beyond Ohai to Birchwood, but the terminus had reverted to Ohai by the time the line was incorporated into the national rail network in 1990. The line is now called the Ohai Line and is one of the very few survivors of a formerly extensive rural branch line network. The Ohai Railway Board Heritage Trust, which had no connection with the Ohai Railway Board, was involved in the restoration of steam locomotives including members of the P and V classes and a railway museum was been established, but the trust has been dissolved.
Ohai is the terminus of New Zealand State Highway 96, which runs from Mataura via Hedgehope and Winton. The primary school closed in 2003 and students now attend school in nearby Nightcaps. A heated Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, a bowls club, a police station, and a recreational reserve are located in the town.
Despite concerns about the closure of the mine, many residents look forward to the establishment of recreational lakes and the construction of walkway around the Morley streams and proposed lakes.[5][6]
Major petroleum company L&M Energy is successfully completing the final stages of its well-drilling program for coal seam gas production on the outskirts of the town. If the Ohai coal seam gas project is able to convert its existing 3P gas reserves into 2P reserves for development it could be the biggest onshore gas project in New Zealand, creating growth and opportunities in this town.
Coal is to be mined again on a small scale, commencing mid 2012.
Ohai-Nightcaps community website http://www.nightcaps-ohai.co.nz/ Western Southland, Ohai site http://www.westernsouthland.co.nz/pages/viewtown.php?town=4
[edit] References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010) |
- ^ Quickstats about Ohai
- ^ http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/CommProfiles.nsf/FindInfobyArea/612300-au
- ^ http://www.tba.co.nz/pdf_papers/1998_wp_11_ohai.pdf
- ^ http://www.es.govt.nz/media/8321/te-tangi-a-tauira-maps-of-recorded-archaeological-sites.pdf
- ^ http://www.coalnz.com/index.cfm/3,452,466/sole_enviro_reprt_final08.pdf
- ^ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0902/S00267.htm
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