Omarama
| Omarama | |
|---|---|
| Township | |
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| Motto: The Place of Light | |
 Omarama
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| Coordinates: 44°29′0″S 169°58′0″E / 44.48333°S 169.96667°ECoordinates: 44°29′0″S 169°58′0″E / 44.48333°S 169.96667°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waitaki District |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 231 |
| Time zone | NZST (UTC+12) |
| • Summer (DST) | NZDT (UTC+13) |
Omarama is a small township (population 231 at 2006 census) at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. Omarama is in the Waitaki District, in the historic Province of Otago. The Ahuriri River is a short distance to the north of the township.
Omarama is primarily a rural service centre, providing local farmers and other residents with necessities and facilities such as grocery shopping, fuel and mechanical services, as well as a post shop.
In more recent years these and similar services have expanded moderately, due to the increase in new residents and visitors, including anglers, artists, astronomers, sailplane enthusiasts, skiers and general tourists.
A significant proportion of permanent village residents are employees of, or contractors to, Meridian Energy Limited, a state-owned enterprise which is responsible for the nearby dams and powerstations that are part of New Zealand's hydroelectricity generation.
Omarama is Māori for "Place of Light", a reference to its extraordinarily pure and clear sky.
Although traditionally sheep country, Omarama area farms, along with those within the rest of the Mackenzie Basin, have rapidly converted to predominantly dairy farming, due to falling sheep meat and wool prices, and the recent boom in dairy product earnings.
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