Rakahouka is a community in the Southland Region

Southland Region

Southland is New Zealand's southernmost region and is also a district within that region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura...

 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...

's South Island

South Island

The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...

. It is located in a fertile farming area on the Southland Plains

Southland Plains

The Southland Plains is a general name given to several areas of low-lying land in the South Island of New Zealand, separated by the rise of the Hokonui Hills in the north. It forms a sizeable area of Southland Region and encompasses its two principal settlements the city of Invercargill and the...

 just south of the Makarewa River

Makarewa River

The Makarewa River is the largest tributary of the Oreti River, and is located in Southland, New Zealand. It flows for 60 kilometres from its source in the Hokonui Hills, joining the Oreti just north of Invercargill....

. The nearest major city, Invercargill

Invercargill

Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...

, is approximately 15 km to the southwest, and nearby villages include Grove Bush

Grove Bush

Grove Bush is a village in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the banks of the Makarewa River on the Southland Plains near the foothills of the Hokonui Hills....

 and Mabel Bush

Mabel Bush

- Introduction :Mabel Bush is a small community in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. The community has an estimated population of 127 people. The main building in the area is the Mabel Bush Hall, which consists of the hall and tennis courts...

 to the north, Woodlands

Woodlands, New Zealand

Woodlands is a locality in the Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island on the banks of the Waihopai River. It is northeast of Invercargill between Dacre and Longbush...

 to the southeast, and Myross Bush

Myross Bush

Myross Bush is a rural community on the northeastern outskirts of the city of Invercargill in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island...

 and Roslyn Bush

Roslyn Bush

Roslyn Bush is a lightly populated locality on the northeastern outskirts of the city of Invercargill in the Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island...

 to the southwest.

State Highway 98

New Zealand State Highway network

The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...

 runs through Rakahouka. The State Highway links Makarewa

Makarewa

Makarewa is a small community north of Invercargill .Facilities include a primary school with a roll of about 130 children, two abandoned dairies, meeting rooms for clubs, a playcentre, country club, squash courts, lawn bowling club, and an indoor swimming pool on the school grounds.Alliance Group...

 and Dacre

Dacre, New Zealand

Dacre is the name of a small town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the Southland Plains between Invercargill and Edendale on State Highway 1. In Dacre, SH 1 is met by State Highway 98 , which runs west to Makarewa via Rakahouka. Nearby villages include Mabel Bush to the...

, and Rakahouka is the only named locality on its route.