Ohai
Encyclopedia
Ohаi is a town in the Southland Region
of New Zealand
's South Island
. It is located 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.
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 known as the Ohai Industrial Line and is one of the very few survivors of a formerly extensive rural branch line
network. The Ohai Railway Board is now involved in the restoration of steam locomotive
s including members of the P and V
classes and a railway museum has been established.
Ohai is the terminus of State Highway 96
, which runs from Mataura
via Hedgehope
and Winton. A primary school once served the town, but it closed in 2003 and students now attend school in nearby Nightcaps
. A golf course, a bowls club, a police station, and a recreational reserve are located in the town.
Major petroleum company L&M Energy is successfully completing the final stages of their well drilling program on the outskirts of this town for coal seam gas production. If the Ohai coal seam gas project is able to convert its existing 3P gas reserves into 2P reserves for development then it could be the biggest onshore gas project in New Zealand, creating growth and opportunities in this town.
Southland Region
Southland is New Zealand's southernmost region and is also a district within that region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. It is located 65 kilometres northwest of Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
and 25 kilometres west of Winton
Winton, New Zealand
Winton is a town in Southland, New Zealand. It is located close to the east bank of the Oreti River, 30 kilometres north of Invercargill and 50 kilometres south of Lumsden. It is named after Thomas Winton, a local stockman who lived in the area in the 1850s...
. The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
gave its population as 399, a decline of 22.2% or 114 people since the 1996 census.
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
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
's Wairio Branch
Wairio Branch
The Wairio Branch, now incorporating the Ohai Industrial Line, is a branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand. It opened in 1882 and is the sole remaining branch line in Southland, and one of only a few in the entire country...
was opened by the Ohai Railway Board in January 1925. In 1934, this line was further extended beyond Ohai to Birchwood
Birchwood, New Zealand
Birchwood is a locality in the Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated west of Ohai and Nightcaps, and north of Tuatapere and Orawia, with the nearest State Highway in Ohai....
, but the terminus had reverted to Ohai by the time the line was incorporated into the national rail network
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
in 1990. The line is now known as the Ohai Industrial Line and is one of the very few survivors of a formerly extensive rural branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
network. The Ohai Railway Board is now involved in the restoration of steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s including members of the P and V
NZR V class
The NZR V class steam locomotive was used on New Zealand's railway network from 1885 onwards.-Introduction:The heavy increase in traffic by the early 1880s necessitated a design for a new class of passenger locomotive. The V class was conceived as an enlarged version of the 2-4-2 NZR K class of...
classes and a railway museum has been established.
Ohai is the terminus of State Highway 96
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
, which runs from Mataura
Mataura
Mataura is a town in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. Mataura has a meat processing plant, and until 2000 it was the site of a large pulp and paper mill....
via Hedgehope
Hedgehope, New Zealand
Hedgehope is a locality in the central Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. Located in the Hokonui Hills, Winton is to the west, Mataura to the east, and Mabel Bush to the south .The nearest city is Invercargill, over 25 km to the southwest...
and Winton. A primary school once served the town, but it closed in 2003 and students now attend school in nearby Nightcaps
Nightcaps
Nightcaps is a town in the Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island. According to the 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, its population is 339, consisting of 186 males and 153 females. This represents a decline of 13.6% or 54 people since the 1996 census. State Highway 96...
. A golf course, a bowls club, a police station, and a recreational reserve are located in the town.
Major petroleum company L&M Energy is successfully completing the final stages of their well drilling program on the outskirts of this town for coal seam gas production. If the Ohai coal seam gas project is able to convert its existing 3P gas reserves into 2P reserves for development then it could be the biggest onshore gas project in New Zealand, creating growth and opportunities in this town.