Ōtaki, New Zealand

Ōtaki is a town in the Kapiti Coast District of the North Island of New Zealand, situated half way between the capital city Wellington, 70 km (43 mi) to the southwest, and Palmerston North, 70 km (43 mi) to the northeast. In the 2018 census, the town's recorded population was 3,489.[2]

For the electorate, see Ōtaki (New Zealand electorate).
Ōtaki
Ōtaki
Coordinates: 40°45′S 175°08′E[1]
Population
 (2018)
 • Total3,489 [2]

Ōtaki is located on New Zealand State Highway 1 and the North Island Main Trunk railway between Wellington and Auckland and marks the northernmost point of the Wellington Region. The construction of the Kapiti Expressway and the Transmission Gully Motorway are currently underway and will cut traveling times to Wellington.[3]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of sticking a staff into the ground" for Ōtaki.[4]

History

Since the early 19th century, the area has been home to Māori of the Ngāti Raukawa iwi who had migrated from the Kawhia area from about 1819, under the leadership of Te Rauparaha.[5] They had supplanted the Rangitāne and Muaūpoko people.

At the request of Te Rauparaha, missionaries Henry Williams and Octavius Hadfield visited the area in December and Hadfield opened the first mission in the Wellington Region at Otaki.[6] At the nearby Raukawa marae is the Rangiātea Church, the original of which was completed in 1851. Burnt down in 1995, it was completely rebuilt by 2003.[7] The Reverend James McWilliam was Clergyman in charge of the Maori Mission in Otaki under the Church Missionary Society of England from 1868 to 1906 with the support of his wife, Emily McWilliam. [8][9]

Marae

The community has two marae, affiliated with the iwi of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and its hapū.

Te Pou o Tainui Marae and Kapumanawawhiti meeting house are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti.[10][11] In October 2020, the Government committed $159,203 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, and create 12 jobs.[12]

Raukawa Marae and meeting house are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Korokī, Ngāti Maiotaki and Ngāti Pare.[10][11] In October 2020, the Government committed $337,112 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, and create 12 jobs.[12]

Pukekaraka Marae in Ōtaki was the site of a Catholic mission from 1842. It includes the Roma meeting house, built in 1904, and Hine Nui O Te Ao Katoa meeting house, built for tangi and larger gatherings in 1905. The marae has been used by both Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and Muaupoko.[13] In October 2020, the Government committed $143,984 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the site, creating an estimated 8 jobs.[12]

Geography

The town is situated at the northern end of the Kapiti Coast, close to the banks of the Ōtaki River, 4 kilometres from its outflow into the Tasman Sea.

The surrounding district includes Te Horo and Manakau and the beach settlement at Waikawa Beach. The district is agricultural, with market gardens and lifestyle blocks. The economy of the town includes service industries for the rural community. The local paper is the Ōtaki Mail.[14]

Features

Ōtaki is home to Te Wānanga o Raukawa a Tikanga Māori university. It also hosts the annual Maoriland Film Festival and Otaki Kite Festival.[15] and is home of The Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club.[16] established in 1886.

Ōtaki Forks[17] is the western gateway to the Tararua Forest Park. It offers recreational activities ranging from short walks, swimming, rafting and kayaking to advanced tramps of 3 – 5 days duration, including the Southern Crossing that ends at Kaitoke 45 km northeast of Wellington.

Ōtaki Beach spans the stretch of coastline between the Ōtaki River and the Waitohu Stream,[18] with a residential community of both permanent and holiday homes. The beach is popular for surfing, swimming, recreational fishing, horse riding, walking and photography.

Sports & Community

Otaki Golf Club[19] established in 1901, is a links style 18 hole golf course located at the northern end of the historic Old Coach Road.[20]

Otaki Surf Life Saving Club[21] actively patrols the beach during the summer.

Other sports facilities include rugby, rugby league, netball, swimming, wakaama, water polo, football, squash, and tennis.[22]

Education

Early Learning Schools

Ōtaki Montessori School[23] is a co-educational pre-school for children from ages 2-6.[24]

Ōtaki Early Learning Centre[25] is a co-educational pre-school for children of age 2 and above.

Primary schools

Otaki School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students.[26][27] with a roll of 164 as of March 2020.[28]

Waitohu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students.[29][30] with a roll of 254.[31]

St Peter Chanel School is a co-educational state-integrated Christian primary school for Year 1 to 8 students.[32] with a roll of 29.[33]

Kura Kaupapa

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito is a co-educational state Māori language immersion school for Year 1 to 13 students,[34] with a roll of 85 as of March 2020.[35]

Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano is a co-educational state Māori language immersion school for Year 1 to 13 students,[36][37] with a roll of 200.[38]

Secondary school

Otaki College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 7 to 13 students,[39][40] with a roll of 506 as of March 2020.[41]

Notable people

References
  1. "NZGB Gazetteer". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. LINZ. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  2. "2018 Census place summaries". www.stats.govt.nz. Stats NZ. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  3. "Extra Wellington motorway lane and early finish for Kapiti Expressway on the cards". Stuff.co.nz. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  4. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. "OTAKI HISTORY". Otaki Historical Society. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  6. "The Exploration of New Zealand. Chapter III — Missionaries, Whalers, and Traders 1830–40". Victoria University.
  7. Maclean, Chris (14 November 2012). "Wellington region - Māori buildings and marae". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  8. "Wanganui Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 January 1907. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  9. "New Zealand Mail". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 March 1906. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  10. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  11. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  12. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  13. Scadden, Ken (1 December 2016). "Māori and the Marists". Marist Messenger.
  14. About The Otaki Mail
  15. Maoriland Film Festival
  17. "NZGB Gazetteer". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  18. "Waitohu Stream | Greater Wellington Regional Council". www.gw.govt.nz. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  19. "Otaki Golf Club". Otaki Golf Club. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  20. "OTAKI HISTORY". otakihistoricalsoc. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  21. "Home|OTAKI SURF LIFESAVING CLUB". otakisurfclub. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  22. "Otaki Sports Club - About". www.otakisportsclub.co.nz. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  23. "Welcome to Otaki Montessori Pre-School". otaki-montessori. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  24. "Otaki Montessori Preschool - 27/11/2015". Education Review Office. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  25. Counts, Education. "Ministry of Education - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  26. "Otaki School Official School Website". otaki.school.nz.
  27. "Otaki School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  28. "Otaki School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  29. "Waitohu School Official School Website". waitohu.school.nz.
  30. "Waitohu School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  31. "Waitohu School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  32. "St Peter Chanel School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  33. "St Peter Chanel School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  34. "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  35. "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  36. "Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano Official School Website". wrm.school.nz.
  37. "Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  38. "Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  39. "Otaki College Official School Website". otakicollege.school.nz.
  40. "Otaki College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  41. "Otaki College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  42. "Inia Te Wiata". BFI. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
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