Waitaki Wanderer

  In the process of looking for anything connected to Maori history in the Oamaru region I took a look in Digital NZ and found something more than interesting where the European heritage for Kakaunui (Kakanui) is involved.  Otago in the mid-19th century was a hotbed for agricultural enterprises, companies sprang up to make good on the wealth of sheep, cattle and grain being raised on massive runs such as Totara Estate, Elderslie and other large estates owned by wealthy investors and individuals. Otago (Otakau) was changed rapidly with the coming of the pastoralists once the Crown grants had been dished out after the Crown purchased Kai Tahu lands and in some instances under rather dodgy circumstances. That's another story for another time.  I visited Kakaunui a few weeks ago and loved it. I also discovered where heritage goes? It's recorded but the narratives aren't detailed or in some cases like what I discovered not even mentioned in 21st century local history narrative...

  There's all kinds of heritage connected with European settlement history in Otago, which tells the story of how and entire region and then some became part of the food basket for the rest of the country. It starts with agriculture of course and the clearing of entire tracts of native vegetation with it. I've read elsewhere there's 'no Māori history' for Oamaru. I fail to see how, since my tupuna (ancestors) named the area and that in itself is history also called whakapapa.  Back to this huge water wheel we took a look at recently. Its name is Minnie and it was installed in 1878 for the Phoenix flour mill to replace a smaller wheel to increase production output. It's listed with Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 Historic Place Reg: 2313 . The Heritage New Zealand summary notes: 'The first industry on this site was John Hunt’s flax mill. The mill was powered by a 28 foot [8.5 metres] overshot water wheel. Flax milling was an important industry in the 186...