Tarras

Farming and agriculture

Most farms in the Tarras district run sheep, principally merino farmed for their super-fine wool. Some also raise other sheep breeds and deer. Many farms have converted to beef cattle since the 2010 introduction of large-scale irrigation.

Shrek, a hermit Merino sheep, was caught in the hills of Tarras on 15 April 2004, after hiding away in caves for six years. He was shorn live on national television, to produce fleece for men's coats. Shrek was euthanised on 6 June 2011 on a veterinarian's advice, at the age of 16.

Vineyards have been established in the area since 2000. The vineyards grow mainly pinot noir and riesling grapes, with some plantings of pinot gris. The Tarras vineyards include Maori Point Vineyard and Swallows Crossing Vineyard. They are formally classified as being in the Bendigo sub-region of the Central Otago wine region.

Sunny and dry climate

Tarras is one of the driest areas in New Zealand, with annual rainfall of between 300 and.

The valley around Tarras is the sunniest in Otago, with over 2,100 sunshine hours per year. The valley is hot in summer, with a median average daily temperature over 22 C, and cold in winter: the median average daily minimum is then below -2 C.

Community

The Anglican and Presbyterian Tarras Church includes kneelers created to celebrate the centennial of New Zealand women's suffrage.

Tarras Rural Women publish the community newsletter, Tarras Talk.

The Tarras Tearooms is a historic waystation for travellers through the Lindis Pass.

Education

Tarras School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of .

The school has published a children's books about Shrek the sheep to raise funds for the school and its students. The book was written by school children and edited by teachers and parents.

International airport proposal

Main article: Central Otago Airport

In July 2022, an investigative journalist revealed that Christchurch Airport had been secretly buying up farmland between highways and next to Tarras, with the intention of creating a new international airport. After the airport company was forced to announce their plans, there was widespread concern within the community and indeed throughout Central Otago about the proposed airport.

References

References

1. (1978). "Sheep May Safely Graze: The Story of Morven Hills Station and the Tarras District". G Duff.
2. (6 June 2011). "Shrek the celebrity sheep dies". [[Otago Daily Times]].
3. (29 April 2004). "Hermit sheep 'Shrek' shorn of 6-year-old woolly fleece". China Daily.
4. (28 April 2004). "NZ's famous sheep gets TV haircut". BBC.
5. Booth, Jenny. (28 April 2004). "Shrek the sheep shorn at last". BBC.
6. "2002 Australian wool production survey, giving (p. 6) average Merino fleece weights.". agric.wa.gov.au.
7. "Merino stud ram listed (p 3) with fleece weight of 16.2 kg.". sunnyvalley.com.au.
8. "Maori Point Vineyard".
9. "Swallows Crossing Vineyard".
10. "Bendigo Vineyards and Wineries".
11. (April 2014). "Lindis catchment and Bendigo-Tarras Basin: Information Sheet".
12. ''A Tapestry of Tarras: Local Stories Told in Stitches''. Dunedin: [Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, Tarras Branch, 1997].
13. "Tarras School Official School Website".
14. "Tarras School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
15. "Tarras School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
16. "Cromwell and Bannockburn". Central Otago Tourism.
17. "Shrek: The Famous Hermit Sheep of Tarras". The Children's Bookshop.
18. "Tarras: A tiny town in airport shock - full report".
19. (23 July 2020). "New airport mooted for New Zealand's South Island ski area". [[The Guardian]].
20. Price, Mark. (22 July 2020). "New airport mooted for Central Otago". [[Otago Daily Times]].
21. "Small Otago village locals outraged at proposed airport". [[Newshub]].
22. (2021-02-11). "Tarras airport proposal rejected by 74% of Upper Clutha residents survey finds".
23. (13 May 2021). "Protest against Tarras International Airport proposal".