Otaki, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Otaki is a town in the Kapiti Coast District of the North Island
of New Zealand
, situated half way between the capital city
Wellington
, 70 kilometres to the southwest, and Palmerston North
, 70 kilometres to the northeast. It marks the northernmost point of the Wellington Region. The town's population is 5600 (2001 Census). It is located on State Highway 1
and the North Island Main Trunk railway between Te Horo
and Levin
.
In the early 19th century, the area was inhabited by Māori of the Ngati Raukawa iwi
who had migrated from the Kāwhia area from about 1819, under the leadership of Te Rauparaha
. They had supplanted the Rangitāne and Muaupoko people. The nearby Raukawa marae
is one of the points of interest of the area, along with one of the country's oldest churches, Rangiatea, which dates from 1846.
The town is sited close to the banks of the Otaki River
, some 3 kilometres from its outflow into the Tasman Sea
. It is divided into three main parts, Otaki Beach which is a mainly residential area, the larger and more inland Otaki township which contains shops and residential areas and along State Highway 1 near the railway station
, the part known as Otaki Railway. The surrounding district is largely agricultural, with market gardens, and the economy of the town is largely based around service industries for the farming community.
Recent developments in the Otaki Railway area have seen a number of outlet stores open, for which Otaki is becoming well known in the lower North Island. Bendon was one of the first companies to open an outlet in Otaki; the Otaki branch is now one of their busiest in the country. The Bendon Outlet was joined by a Billabong/Ripcurl outlet (formerly Mainbeach now called Amazon Surf) and more recently many others including Pagani, Kumfs (Ziera), JK, Pumpkin Patch, Shoe Connection and more.
Inland from the township is a racecourse where the annual Otaki Maori Races are held.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, situated half way between the capital city
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, 70 kilometres to the southwest, and Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, 70 kilometres to the northeast. It marks the northernmost point of the Wellington Region. The town's population is 5600 (2001 Census). It is located on State Highway 1
State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
and the North Island Main Trunk railway between Te Horo
Te Horo
Te Horo and Te Horo Beach are two localities on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island. Te Horo Beach is the larger of the two settlements and, as its name implies, is located on the Tasman Sea coast. Te Horo is located to the east, a short distance inland. They are situated between Peka...
and Levin
Levin, New Zealand
Levin is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, and is the largest town in the Horowhenua district. It is 90 kilometres north of Wellington, 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North, and two kilometres to the east of Lake Horowhenua....
.
In the early 19th century, the area was inhabited by Māori of the Ngati Raukawa iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
who had migrated from the Kāwhia area from about 1819, under the leadership of Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
. They had supplanted the Rangitāne and Muaupoko people. The nearby Raukawa marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
is one of the points of interest of the area, along with one of the country's oldest churches, Rangiatea, which dates from 1846.
The town is sited close to the banks of the Otaki River
Otaki River
The Otaki River is located in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand. It originates in the Tararua Range and flows for 45 km, firstly heading southwest through a valley in the Tararua Ranges. It turns northwest in the area of Otaki Forks, where it is joined by the Waiotauru River...
, some 3 kilometres from its outflow into the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
. It is divided into three main parts, Otaki Beach which is a mainly residential area, the larger and more inland Otaki township which contains shops and residential areas and along State Highway 1 near the railway station
Otaki Railway Station
Otaki Railway Station is a station on the North Island Main Trunk railway line serving Otaki in the Kapiti Coast District of New Zealand. It is served by the Capital Connection long distance commuter train between Wellington and Palmerston North.- History :...
, the part known as Otaki Railway. The surrounding district is largely agricultural, with market gardens, and the economy of the town is largely based around service industries for the farming community.
Recent developments in the Otaki Railway area have seen a number of outlet stores open, for which Otaki is becoming well known in the lower North Island. Bendon was one of the first companies to open an outlet in Otaki; the Otaki branch is now one of their busiest in the country. The Bendon Outlet was joined by a Billabong/Ripcurl outlet (formerly Mainbeach now called Amazon Surf) and more recently many others including Pagani, Kumfs (Ziera), JK, Pumpkin Patch, Shoe Connection and more.
Inland from the township is a racecourse where the annual Otaki Maori Races are held.