Oamaru is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Waitaki, one of 24 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Oamaru is the largest suburb of Waitaki in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Oamaru provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1880 - 1889. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1950 - 1959. Residential housing stock in Oamaru is made up of approximately 93% residential housing , 2% residential investment housing and 5% lifestyle properties.