Scottish influence on Dunedin, one of New Zealand's most historically important cities was profound, and Presbyterianism is the major religion south of Christchurch.

Many Caledonian societies were formed, well over 100 by the early twentieth century, who helped maintain Scottish culture and traditions.

However, these figures only include people born in Scotland, not those New Zealanders who claim a Scottish identity through their parents, grandparents, or even further back.

[11] Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand notes that in many cases, the distinctive cultural features of Scottish settlers often disappeared in a generation or two, being replaced with a British identity which consisted mostly of English culture: After one generation in New Zealand the Irish and Gaelic languages disappeared, and a more generalised loyalty to Britain developed.

The Otago Settlement, sponsored by the Free Church of Scotland, materialised in March 1848 with the arrival of the first two immigrant ships from Greenock on the Firth of Clyde – the John Wickliffe and the Philip Laing.

Captain William Cargill, a veteran of the Peninsular War, served as the colony's first leader: Otago citizens subsequently elected him to the office of Superintendent.

[citation needed] In 1856, a petition was put forward to Thomas Gore Browne, the Governor of New Zealand, for a port at Bluff.

[citation needed] The Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland founded Dunedin at the head of Otago Harbour in 1848 as the principal town of its Scottish settlement.

[18] Charles Kettle the city's surveyor, instructed to emulate the characteristics of Edinburgh, produced a striking, 'Romantic' design.

[19] The result was both grand and quirky streets as the builders struggled and sometimes failed to construct his bold vision across the challenging landscape.

Despite the reserve status, the Church of England sought to build in the centre of the Octagon, applying directly to Governor Sir George Grey.

Dunedin founders Thomas Burns and James Macandrew urged the Otago Provincial Council during the 1860s to set aside a land endowment for an institute of higher education.

[21] An ordinance of the council established the university in 1869, giving it 100,000 acres (400 km2) of land, and the power to grant degrees in Arts, Medicine, Law and Music.

The South Island also contains the Strath-Taieri and the Ben Ohau Range of mountains, both combining Scots Gaelic and Māori origins.

(Many of Invercargill's main streets are named after Scottish rivers: Dee, Tay, Spey, Esk, Don, Doon, Clyde, etc.).