Ōtaki | |
|---|---|
 Former information centre | |
 | |
| Coordinates:40°45′11″S175°08′24″E / 40.753°S 175.140°E /-40.753; 175.140[1] | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Kāpiti Coast District |
| Ward | Ōtaki Ward |
| Community | Ōtaki Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Kāpiti Coast Mayor | Janet Holborow |
| • Ōtaki MP | Tim Costley |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.46 km2 (3.27 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[4] | |
• Total | 4,020 |
| • Density | 480/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
Ōtaki is a town in theKāpiti Coast District of theNorth Island ofNew Zealand, situated halfway between thecapital cityWellington, 70 km (43 mi) to the southwest, andPalmerston North, 70 km (43 mi) to the northeast.
Ōtaki is located onNew Zealand State Highway 1 and theNorth Island Main Trunkrailway betweenWellington andAuckland and marks the northernmost point of theWellington Region.
The New ZealandMinistry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of sticking a staff into the ground" forŌtaki.[5]
Since the early 19th century, the area has been home toMāori of theNgāti Raukawaiwi who had migrated from the Waikato area from about 1819, under the leadership ofTe Rauparaha amongst others.[6] They had supplanted theRangitāne andMuaūpoko people.
At the request of Te Rauparaha, missionariesHenry Williams andOctavius Hadfield visited the area in December and Hadfield opened the first mission in the Wellington Region at Ōtaki.[7] At the nearby Raukawamarae is theRangiātea Church, the original of which was completed in 1851. Burnt down in 1995, it was completely rebuilt by 2003.[8] 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.[9][10]
The community has threemarae, affiliated with the iwi ofNgāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and its hapū.[citation needed]
Te Pou o Tainui Marae and Kapumanawawhiti meeting house are affiliated with thehapū ofNgāti Kapumanawawhiti.[11][12]
In October 2020, the Government committed $159,203 from theProvincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, and create 12 jobs.[13]
Raukawa Marae and meeting house are affiliated with the hapū ofNgāti Korokī,Ngāti Maiotaki andNgāti Pare.[11][12] In October 2020, the Government committed $337,112 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, and create 12 jobs.[13]
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 bothNgāti Raukawa ki te Tonga andMuaūpoko.[14] In October 2020, the Government committed $143,984 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the site, creating an estimated 8 jobs.[13]
The statistical area of Ōtaki covers 8.46 km2 (3.27 sq mi),[3] It had an estimated population of 4,020 as of June 2024, with a population density of 475.18 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,853 | — |
| 2013 | 3,099 | +1.19% |
| 2018 | 3,489 | +2.40% |
| Source:[15] | ||
Otaki had a population of 3,489 at the2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 390 people (12.6%) since the2013 census, and an increase of 636 people (22.3%) since the2006 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% wereChristian, 2.9% hadMāori religious beliefs, 0.3% wereHindu, 0.1% wereMuslim, 0.8% wereBuddhist 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.[15]
Approximately 50% of all Māori people in Ōtaki can speak theMāori language, and the town aims to become one of the first bilingual towns in New Zealand.[16]
The town is situated at the northern end of the Kāpiti Coast, close to the banks of theŌtaki River, 4 kilometres from its outflow into theTasman Sea.
The surrounding district includesTe Horo andManakau 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[17] and the Ōtaki Mail.[18]
Ōtaki is home toTe Wānanga o Raukawa aTikanga Māori university. It also hosts the annualMāoriland Film Festival and Otaki Kite Festival.[19] and is home of The Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club.[20] established in 1886.
Ōtaki Forks[21] is the western gateway to theTararua 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 atKaitoke 45 km northeast of Wellington.
Ōtaki Beach spans the stretch of coastline between the Ōtaki River and the Waitohu Stream,[22] with a residential community of both permanent and holiday homes. The beach is popular for surfing, swimming, recreational fishing, horse riding, walking and photography.
Otaki Golf Club[23] established in 1901, is a links style 18 hole golf course located at the northern end of the historic Old Coach Road.[24]
Other sports facilities include rugby, rugby league, netball, swimming, wakaama, water polo, football, squash, and tennis.[25]
The Māoriland Film Festival which began in 2014 is held annually in Ōtaki with a focus on indigenous film content.[26]
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.[27]
BothState Highway 1 and theNorth 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 theKāpiti Expressway opened in December 2022, allowing State Highway 1 through traffic to bypass the town.[28] 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.[29]
Electra operates the electricity distribution network in Ōtaki. The town is normally supplied fromTranspower's national grid at its Paraparaumu substation, but can be switched to be supplied from theMangahao substation near Shannon.[30]
The town's fresh water supply is drawn from three groundwater bores.[31]
Ōtaki Montessori School[32] is a co-educational pre-school for children from ages 2–6.[33]
Ōtaki Early Learning Centre[34] is a co-educational pre-school for children of age 2 and above.
Ōtaki Kindergarten[35] 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.
Ōtaki School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students.[36][37] with a roll of 177 as of March 2025.[38]
Waitohu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students[39] 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.[40] with a roll of 12.[41]
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito is a co-educational stateKura Kaupapa Māori school for Year 1 to 13 students,[42] with a roll of 87 as of March 2025.[43]
Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano is a co-educational state Māori language immersion school for Year 1 to 13 students,[44][45] with a roll of 192.[46]
Ōtaki College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 7 to 13 students,[47][48] with a roll of 444 as of March 2025.[49]
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| Geographic | |
