Portal:New Zealand/Selected article/Week 24, 2006
Oamaru is the largest town of North Otago in the South Island of New Zealand. The town lies on State Highway One, 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast. Its historic status as the second centre in Otago (after Dunedin) is under threat from the growth of Queenstown in Central Otago.
Many public buildings make use of a form of local limestone, quarried especially near Weston, and known as "Oamaru stone". The southern part of Oamaru's main business district is justifiably regarded as one of New Zealand's most impressive streetscapes, due to the many prominent buildings constructed from this material. This and another part of the town close to the harbour have been preserved as historic precincts.
Most of the streets in Oamaru are named after rivers in England, particularly rivers in the northwest and southeast of the country. The main street is Thames Street, and Severn and Tyne Streets are also major roads in the town.