Kaitangata, New Zealand
Kaitangata is a small town on the coast of South Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. It lies on the left bank of the Clutha River, 10 km southeast of Balclutha. Of the population of the city is often called Kai.
The place is located near the coast on the western arm of the deltas of the Clutha River. Inch Clutha is located immediately southwest of the village. To the north lies the small Lake Tuakitoto whose drain is a creek west of Kaitangata.
According to the 2006 census the town had 807 permanent inhabitants, an increase of 18 since 2001. The city is mainly inhabited by people of European descent, the share of other origin is at 7.1 %, well below the national average.
The origin of the name of the Māori of the place is unknown. He is the name of a figure from Polynesian mythology, but is probably more of cannibalistic feasts after tribal fighting between the Kai Tahu and Kati mamoe. The name can be as " kill a man and eat him " to be translated.
Kaitangatas European history is closely linked to the coal mining industry. One of the first industrial disasters in New Zealand occurred in 1879 in the mine of Kaitangata. 34 miners lost by an explosion in the mine their lives.
Coal mining certain of the 1870s to 1972, the economy of the town. Then closed the last state underground coal mine. Several open-cast mines in the public and private property exist today, the Kai Point Mine. The Kai Point Coal Company has been building from 1951 in Kaitangata coal for the surrounding industry and for heating purposes. From 1876 to 1970, the railroad to the Kaitangata Line led to the mines, originally in private ownership, it later came to the Mines Department. The locomotive, which sailed this line for many years, an "improved F" indicates that the " Preservation Society " donated Shantytown in Westland and pulls today with a hint of their origin nameplate " Kaitangata " historic trains.
The underground mines built mainly from a lying between coal and lignite coal high quality, which served primarily as fuel for steam locomotives that were used in New Zealand until the 1960s. When the railway Ground surrounded on diesel locomotives, it came to the expiration of such mines. The currently operated surface mines provide lignite mainly for domestic heating. As the number of coal -fired households goes back and there is also increasing pressure for environmental reasons, this shift to other fuels, the future of the remaining surface mines is uncertain.
In recent years, the city gained some notoriety through several crimes, in particular a series of arsons in the 1990s. The establishment of a marketing company from the former homeowner association has been able to improve the image of something.
Population
From Kaitangata the national rugby player Tony Brown comes.