Maniototo

The Maniototo Plain is surrounded by a mountain landscape fertile plain in Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.

Geography

The Maniototo plane is in Central Otago runs in a north-easterly direction between the Rough Ridge to the west and the Rock and Pillar Range in the east. The north is enclosed by the Ida Range and the Kakanui Mountains. Due to the level of the Taieri River flows and, with its many tributaries irrigate the plane safely. The largest and second largest city in the plain are Ranfurly and Naseby. Ranfurly is right on Highway 85, which traverses the plain in the northern part.

History

There is no evidence that Maori have lived in the Maniototo Plain. But well- known as they moved through the country on their journey to the West Coast to Pounamu, Greenstone or Jade NZ to find. On their journey they hunted moa (now extinct) and left earth ovens for preparing the hangi. Furthermore, there is evidence that Maori removed in the area around Oturehua, 26 km from Ranfurly, have cut quartz for the fabrication of sharp tools.

The Maniototo level, like all parts of Otago, settled in the middle of the 19th century by Europeans and got her boom with the Otago Gold Rush ( 1861-1863 ). Farmers and prospectors settled in the country. The formation of cities in the plane got upswing with the construction of the railway line Otago Central Railway Line, from Dunedin to Cromwell, whereby the construction phase of Middlemarch to Clyde 1891-1907 the founding of cities Kokonga, (1897 ), Ranfurly (1897 ), Waipiata ( 1898) and Wedderburn (1900 ) was noted, the latter as train and stagecoach station, which was on this train trip with 570 meters the highest place.

Following the decline of the gold mining industry and with the attitude of the railway line from Middlemarch to Cromwell in 1980, it was quiet in the Maniototo level. What finally remained was the farm economy.

Nature and Landscape

The landscape of the Maniototo Plain, although New Zealand is made up of islands, exposed to a kind of continental climate. With an average of only 66 days of rain fall between 300 mm and 600 mm of precipitation. Summers are very hot with up to 35 degrees Celsius and winters can sometimes even temperatures to -15 degrees Celsius produce.

Despite the relatively low rainfall, there is a level of fertile land. Glacial deposits and the water supply through the Taieri presented so safely. Large parts of the country are covered by tussock grass, which is currently represented in 16 different forms in New Zealand.

Use

Even today, the farming and sheep farming the main source of income of the inhabitants dar. In recent years, nor was added in the dairy industry, and above all an ever- increasing tourism. Tours for tourists like to be offered and provide for the locals a good additional source of income

The Taieri River and its tributaries is used intensively for fishing.

Swell

All references and links in English.

• Maniototo community plan, Central Otago District Council, Alexandra, February 2007.
• Maniototo - Maniototo promoter

• Otago (Region)
• Geography (New Zealand)
• Geography (Australia and Oceania)