Tuatapere

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Tuatapere is a small rural town in Southland, New Zealand. It is located eight kilometres from the southern coast. The Waiau River flows through the town before reaching Te Waewae Bay, where it has its outflow into Foveaux Strait. It has a population of approximately 650. The main local industries are forestry and farming. The local unemployment level is relatively high.

Tuatapere has a lumbering museum and is the closest town to the largest viaduct in the southern hemisphere. It sits on the road from Invercargill to Te Anau making it a well-travelled tourist stop where one can enjoy the 'world famous' sausages for which Tuatapere considers itself the Sausage Capital of New Zealand. The Blue Cliffs near the Rowallan and the Hump Ridge track are also excellent tourist attractions.

[edit] Railway

On 1 October 1909, a branch line railway from Invercargill was opened to Tuatapere and it became known as the Tuatapere Branch. On 20 October 1925, an extension was opened to Orawia, but the line continued to be known as the Tuatapere Branch and an engine depot was established in the town. It was used as the base for most operations on the line and the branch was operated as essentially two sections, one from Invercargill to Tuatapere and one from Tuatapere to Orawia. Until 1968, steam locomotives ran all trains to Tuatapere, but in June 1968, the line was dieselised, resulting in the closure of the Tuatapere engine depot. On 1 October 1970, a lack of traffic meant the line was truncated to Tuatapere, and it was further cut on 30 July 1976 when the section between Riverton and Tuatapere closed. Some relics from the railway have been preserved in Tuatapere, including structures in the station area such as the old station building and goods shed.