Central Voices: Old Stories for Young Minds

Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits!

Rabbits were brought to New Zealand from Australia nearly 200 years ago.  Find out more about how farmers and families in Central Otago lived alongside these furry invaders. For some, rabbits were a total disaster, devastating farms across the regions, while for others, they created jobs in rabbit control and the meat and fur trade.

Digging up history in my back yard

When I tripped over an rusty piece of iron on the family farm, curiosity got the better of me. After many days of digging, I found an old steam power tractor which was made in 1867.  What else is lying around Central Otago that tells the story of our past.  Maybe there’s a piece of history in your back yard too!

Modern Day Gold Diggers

Over 150 years ago, people rushed to Central Otago hoping to find gold in its rivers and hills. Towns grew quickly as miners searched for treasure. Some got rich, but many worked hard for little gold. Today, old mining sites, tunnels, and ghost towns remind us of this exciting time!  But is there still gold out there? Some  modern day gold diggers say “yes there is!”