Ohai

Ohаi is a town in the Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island, 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. The literal meaning of Ohаi is unclear, but Ohai means "place of the stone" and this name was in use for the area before the coal mining or town was established. It has been noted that Morley stream near the town was previously called Ohai. It is likely that the area was originally named in relation to a Maori stone quarry that is nearby. Ohai is notable for the production of coal. In order to provide convenient transport of the coal to markets beyond the...