Dunedin City Council

History Dunedin's known history dates back as far as 1100 AD with the arrival of M?ori to the area and archaeological evidence points to a lengthy occupation by M?ori prior to the arrival of Europeans. The province and region of Otago takes its name from the Ngai Tahu village of ?t?kou at the mouth of the harbour. Dunedin's wildlife drew European settlers to the area; It is not known exactly when sealers entered the harbour, however M?ori oral tradition puts it sometime before 1810. By the late 1830s Otago Harbour had become an international whaling port. Perched on the rim of an ancient volcano - the last eruptive phase ended over ten million years ago - Dunedin is the oldest city in New Zealand and still retains many of its historical buildings. Its name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. In M?ori it is referred to as ?tepoti. The city itself was established in 1848 by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland. A gold rush in the Otago province during the 1860s caused Dunedin’s population, and wealth, to increase dramatically; it was for several years New Zealand’s largest and most prosperous city. During the 20th century the city's growth slowed significantly, leaving behind a rich tapestry of Edwardian and Victorian architectural heritage. The Dunedin Railway Station, built in the Edwardian Baroque style, is Dunedin's most famous monument to its Golden Days, and New Zealand's most photographed building. The University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest, was founded in Dunedin in 1869, and since then students have made a major contribution to the city’s unique character. Dunedin now For a city of its size, Dunedin is relatively easy to get around, regardless of what time of the day it is. It has very accessible recreational and cultural venues, great shopping, supermarkets, restaurants, as well as first-rate health care and education. The latest estimated resident population figures, released by Stats NZ, showed Dunedin's population had jumped by 1,500 people, or 1.1%, to 134,600 in the year to June 2023. For the latest demographic analysis, visit Infometrics Dunedin City Regional Economic Profile. If you are visiting Dunedin and want ideas about what to see and do, if you are thinking about moving here for work or to study, if you would like to set up a business or invest here, if you want to run a conference or event, or if you have a local business and want to build your connections and capacity, talk to us. We have experts in all these areas and we’re here for you.