Duntroon | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 44°51′17″S 170°41′2″E / 44.85472°S 170.68389°E | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Canterbury |
Territorial authority | Waitaki District |
Ward | Ahuriri Ward |
Community | Ahuriri Community |
Electorates |
|
Government | |
• Territorial authority | Waitaki District Council |
• Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
• Mayor of Waitaki | Gary Kircher |
• Waitaki MP | Miles Anderson |
• Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
Area | |
• Total | 5.13 km2 (1.98 sq mi) |
Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 110 |
• Density | 21/km2 (56/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time) |
Postcode | 9445 |
Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Duntroon (from Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Treòin) is a small farming-town in the Waitaki District of New Zealand's South Island. Although traditionally considered a North Otago town, it is located within the farthest southern reaches of Canterbury. Just north of the town runs the Waitaki River, which forms the traditional border between the two regions, although the official border has moved south to put most of Waitaki District, including Duntroon, within Canterbury. To the east of the village runs the Maerewhenua River. Near the village are the Earthquakes, a limestone-cliff formation.
The town was named by Scottish settler and farmer Robert Campbell. Economic activity has been mainly agricultural for much of the town's history, focusing primarily on sheep farming and on the growing of crops such as wheat and barley.
Duntroon is home to the Vanished World Heritage Centre, dedicated to showcasing the geology of the Waitaki region and preserving fossils of extinct species that have been found in the region. These include two species of the penguin genus Archaeospheniscus, Lowe's penguin and Lopdell's penguin, found in the Kokoamu Greensand formation. The town is also located near two sites of centuries-old Māori rock drawings, one of which being the Takiroa Rock Art Shelter.
5 kilometres (3 mi) south of Duntroon, in the Maerewhenua Valley, a group of large rock-formations called "Elephant Rocks" was used as a filming location for the first Chronicles of Narnia movie in 2005.[3] The rock formations, located in a private field, are visible from the road.
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