Ōtaki, New Zealand

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Ōtaki is a town in the Kāpiti Coast District of the North Island of New Zealand, situated halfway between the capital city Wellington, Template:Cvt to the southwest, and Palmerston North, Template:Cvt 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 {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

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 Waikato area from about 1819, under the leadership of Te Rauparaha amongst others.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=TeAra>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Marae

The community has three marae, affiliated with the iwi of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and its hapū.Template:Citation needed

Te Pou o Tainui Marae and Kapumanawawhiti meeting house are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti.<ref name="tkmentry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="maorimaps">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In October 2020, the Government committed $159,203 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, and create 12 jobs.<ref name="maraepgf">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Raukawa Marae and meeting house are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Korokī, Ngāti Maiotaki and Ngāti Pare.<ref name="tkmentry" /><ref name="maorimaps" /> In October 2020, the Government committed $337,112 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, and create 12 jobs.<ref name="maraepgf" />

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.<ref name="scadden">Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2020, the Government committed $143,984 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the site, creating an estimated 8 jobs.<ref name="maraepgf" />

Demographics

The statistical area of Ōtaki covers Template:Convert,<ref name="Area">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2023 SA2 as of Template:NZ population data 2023 SA2 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km².

Template:Historical populations 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.<ref name="Census 2018">Template:NZ census 2018</ref>

Approximately 50% of all Māori people in Ōtaki can speak the Māori language, and the town aims to become one of the first bilingual towns in New Zealand.<ref>"New Zealand town makes bid to be first officalTemplate:Sic bilingual community". 3 May 2017. National Indigenous Television. Retrieved 16 March 2025.</ref>

Geography

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 to the south and Waitohu Stream to the north.

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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the Ōtaki Mail, unusual for a small New Zealand town<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Features

Ōtaki is home to Te Wānanga o Raukawa a Tikanga Māori university. It also hosts the annual Māoriland Film Festival and Otaki Kite Festival.<ref>Maoriland Film Festival</ref> and is home of The Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> established in 1886.

Ōtaki Forks<ref name="Ōtaki Forks">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is the main western gateway to the Tararua Forest Park. It offers recreational activities ranging from short walks, swimming, camping, 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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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

Otaki Golf Club<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> established in 1901, is a links style 18 hole golf course located at the northern end of the historic Old Coach Road.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other sports facilities include rugby, rugby league, netball, swimming, wakaama, water polo, football, squash, and tennis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Community

The Māoriland Film Festival which began in 2014 is held annually in Ōtaki with a focus on indigenous film content.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Infrastructure and services

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.<ref name="stuff-pp2o-open">Template:Cite news</ref> 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 Template:Convert north of the roundabout.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The historic Ōtaki railway station was opened in 1886 and is currently served by the Capital Connection train on a weekday basis.

Located south of the Otaki river (on Otaki Gorge Road) is the Otaki Aerodrome (NZOT) which consists of a single grass runway (16/34) of approximately 800 metres in length and has minimal facilities.

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The town's fresh water supply is drawn from three groundwater bores.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Education

Early Learning Schools

Ōtaki Montessori School<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a co-educational pre-school for children from ages 2–6.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ōtaki Early Learning Centre<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a co-educational pre-school for children of age 2 and above.

Ōtaki Kindergarten<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a co-educational pre-school for children of age 2 and above.

Ōtaki Playcentre is a co-educational early childhood centre for children from birth to six years old.

Primary schools

Ōtaki School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students.<ref name="official2939">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="moe2939">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data as of Template:NZ school roll data.<ref name="ero2939">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Waitohu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="moe3020">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data.<ref name="ero3020">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kura Kaupapa

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito is a co-educational state Kura Kaupapa Māori school for Year 1 to 13 students,<ref name="ero4211">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data as of Template:NZ school roll data.<ref name="moe4211">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano is a co-educational state Māori language immersion school for Year 1 to 13 students,<ref name="official3101">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ero3101">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data.<ref name="moe3101">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Secondary school

Ōtaki College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 7 to 13 students,<ref name="official240">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ero240">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data as of Template:NZ school roll data.<ref name="moe240">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notable people

• Vincent Bevan, New Zealand and Wellington rugby-union player.
• Iain Hewitson, Australian TV chef.
• Carla Van Zon, artistic director.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Renée (1929–2023), writer<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Sir William Walkley, oil-company executive.
• Inia Te Wiata<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Keeley O'Hagan, high jumper