The sun rose with Sunrise in Ōamaru’s historic precinct on Monday (May 15) morning.

Australian’s Channel 7 breakfast show Sunrise, with roving reporter Katie Brown, was in town to experience the best of what it has to offer and share it across the ditch.



Whitestone Civic Trust property manager Michelle Harrison said Ōamaru stakeholders received an email from Tourism New Zealand, inviting them to come up with an idea collaboratively to promote the area.

“It’s just really brought the operators together, everyone’s wanting to not just promote their own business, but also promote the town,” she said. 

The production crew began filming on Harbour Street, before moving into Whitestone City for a carousel ride, followed by a visit to Steampunk HQ, a Whitestone Cheese taster, and then a listen of local band Fabulous Bs at the Criterion Hotel. The morning was wrapped up with a well-earned morning beer at Craftwork Brewery. There were seven live crosses from Ōamaru to Australia.

Acting Tourism Waitaki manager Phillippa Agnew said the trick was to run the morning from the precinct.

“And try and get as much of the district in one spot as we possibly could.”

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and deputy mayor Hana Halalele made appearances on the show, along with BuggyRobot man Martin Horspool and his partner Wendy Jones. 

The crew is heading further south to broadcast from Dunedin on Tuesday, Michelle said.

“It was just an opportunity for us to promote the area that was too good to pass up on.

“I think it also illustrates the importance of this area, and that we should all be working together, ideally.”

Coming at you live from Ōamaru. PHOTO: Facebook/Waitaki District Council