Ōtaki, New Zealand

Coordinates: 40°45′11″S 175°08′24″E / 40.753°S 175.140°E / -40.753; 175.140
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For the electorate, see Ōtaki (New Zealand electorate).

Ōtaki
Former information centre
Former information centre
Map
Coordinates: 40°45′11″S 175°08′24″E / 40.753°S 175.140°E / -40.753; 175.140[1]
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWellington Region
Territorial authorityKāpiti Coast District
WardŌtaki Ward
CommunityŌtaki Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityKāpiti Coast District Council
 • Regional councilGreater Wellington Regional Council
 • Kāpiti Coast MayorJanet Holborow
 • Ōtaki MPTim Costley
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
[2]
 • Total8.46 km2 (3.27 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[3]
 • Total4,000
 • Density470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)

Ōtaki is a town in the Kāpiti 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.

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

History[edit]

Interior of Rangiātea Church in Ōtaki by Barraud in circa 1851

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 Ōtaki.[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 Ōtaki under the Church Missionary Society of England from 1868 to 1906 with the support of his wife, Emily McWilliam.[8][9]

Marae[edit]

The community has three marae, affiliated with the iwi of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and its hapū.[citation needed]

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 Muaūpoko.[13] In October 2020, the Government committed $143,984 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the site, creating an estimated 8 jobs.[12]

Demographics[edit]

The statistical area of Ōtaki covers 8.46 km2 (3.27 sq mi),[2] It had an estimated population of 4,000 as of June 2023, with a population density of 472.81 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,853—    
20133,099+1.19%
20183,489+2.40%
Source: [14]

Otaki had a population of 3,489 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 390 people (12.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 636 people (22.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,416 households, comprising 1,641 males and 1,848 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female. The median age was 43.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 759 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 552 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,335 (38.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 843 (24.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 67.3% European/Pākehā, 41.4% Māori, 6.4% Pasifika, 5.9% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.4% had no religion, 35.5% were Christian, 2.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.8% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 435 (15.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 570 (20.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $23,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 219 people (8.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,029 (37.7%) people were employed full-time, 387 (14.2%) were part-time, and 126 (4.6%) were unemployed.[14]

Geography[edit]

Main Trunk line bridge over the Ōtaki River

The town is situated at the northern end of the Kāpiti 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. Ōtaki has two local newspapers – Ōtaki Today[15] and the Ōtaki Mail.[16]

Features[edit]

Ōtaki is home to Te Wānanga o Raukawa a Tikanga Māori university. It also hosts the annual Māoriland Film Festival and Otaki Kite Festival.[17] and is home of The Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club.[18] established in 1886.

Ōtaki Forks[19] 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,[20] 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[edit]

Otaki Golf Club[21] established in 1901, is a links style 18 hole golf course located at the northern end of the historic Old Coach Road.[22]

Otaki Surf Life Saving Club[23] actively patrols the beach during the summer.

Other sports facilities include rugby, rugby league, netball, swimming, wakaama, water polo, football, squash, and tennis.[24]

Community[edit]

The Māoriland Film Festival which began in 2014 is held annually in Otaki with a focus on indigenous film content.[25]

The Otaki Museum is located at 49 Main Street in the former BNZ building and provides access to local history collections, oral histories, photographs and documents.[26]

Infrastructure and services[edit]

Both State Highway 1 and the North Island Main Trunk railway passes through the town, connecting it with Paraparaumu and Wellington to the south and Levin, Palmerston North and ultimately Auckland in the north. The Peka Peka to Ōtaki section of the Kāpiti Expressway opened in December 2022, allowing State Highway 1 through traffic to bypass the town.[27] Prior to the expressway opening, the highway through the town and especially the roundabout with Mill Road were a traffic bottleneck; at holiday periods, Wellington-bound traffic could queue for up to 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of the roundabout.[28]

Electra operates the electricity distribution network in Ōtaki. The town is normally supplied from Transpower's national grid at its Paraparaumu substation, but can be switched to be supplied from the Mangahao substation near Shannon.[29]

The town's fresh water supply is drawn from three groundwater bores.[30]

Education[edit]

Early Learning Schools[edit]

Ōtaki Montessori School[31] is a co-educational pre-school for children from ages 2–6.[32]

Ōtaki Early Learning Centre[33] is a co-educational pre-school for children of age 2 and above.

Otaki Kindergarten[34] is a co-educational pre-school for children of age 2 and above.

Primary schools[edit]

Ōtaki School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students.[35][36] with a roll of 159 as of February 2024.[37]

Waitohu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students[38] with a roll of 269 as of March 2023

St Peter Chanel School is a co-educational state-integrated Christian primary school for Year 1 to 8 students.[39] with a roll of 16.[40]

Kura Kaupapa[edit]

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito is a co-educational state Kura Kaupapa Māori school for Year 1 to 13 students,[41] with a roll of 80 as of February 2024.[42]

Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano is a co-educational state Māori language immersion school for Year 1 to 13 students,[43][44] with a roll of 169.[45]

Secondary school[edit]

Otaki College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 7 to 13 students,[46][47] with a roll of 355 as of February 2024.[48]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "NZGB Gazetteer". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. LINZ. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. ^ "OTAKI HISTORY". Otaki Historical Society. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  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 17 January 2021.
  9. ^ "New Zealand Mail". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 March 1906. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  11. ^ a b "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  12. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Otaki (236500). 2018 Census place summary: Otaki
  15. ^ "About Ōtaki Today". Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  16. ^ "About The Otaki Mail".
  17. ^ Maoriland Film Festival
  18. ^ "Nau mai, haere mai". Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club.
  19. ^ "NZGB Gazetteer". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Waitohu Stream | Greater Wellington Regional Council". www.gw.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Otaki Golf Club". Otaki Golf Club. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  22. ^ "OTAKI HISTORY". otakihistoricalsoc. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Home|OTAKI SURF LIFESAVING CLUB". otakisurfclub. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  24. ^ "Otaki Sports Club - About". www.otakisportsclub.co.nz. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Māoriland Film Festival 2021 - NZ's International Indigenous Film Festival". Māoriland Charitable Trust. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Otaki Museum". www.otakimuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  27. ^ Knell, Conor (21 December 2022). "New Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway opens in time for Christmas exodus". The Dominion Post. Stuff. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  28. ^ Fallon, Virginia (3 October 2018). "Notorious State Highway 1 chokepoint to be narrowed, have crossing installed". Stuff. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  29. ^ "Asset Management Plan 2021 – 2031" (PDF). Electra. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Community supply". www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Welcome to Otaki Montessori Pre-School". otaki-montessori. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  32. ^ "Otaki Montessori Preschool - 27/11/2015". Education Review Office. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  33. ^ Counts, Education. "Ministry of Education - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  34. ^ "Otaki Kindergarten | Education Review Office". ero.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Otaki School Official School Website". otaki.school.nz.
  36. ^ "Otaki School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  37. ^ "Otaki School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  38. ^ "Waitohu School | Education Review Office". ero.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  39. ^ "St Peter Chanel School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  40. ^ "St Peter Chanel School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  41. ^ "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  42. ^ "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  43. ^ "Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano Official School Website". wrm.school.nz.
  44. ^ "Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  45. ^ "Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  46. ^ "Otaki College Official School Website". otakicollege.school.nz.
  47. ^ "Otaki College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  48. ^ "Otaki College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  49. ^ "Carla van Zon's Otaki art oasis". Stuff. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  50. ^ "Playwright and novelist Renée dies aged 94". 1 News. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  51. ^ "Inia Te Wiata". BFI. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  52. ^ "Felicity Frockaccino". Stuff. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
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