Otakiri

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Rural community in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand

title: "Otakiri" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["whakatāne-district", "populated-places-in-the-bay-of-plenty-region"] description: "Rural community in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand" topic_path: "general/whakatane-district" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otakiri" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Rural community in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameOtakiri
native_name_lang
settlement_typeRural community
mapframeyes
mapframe-zoom9
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNew Zealand
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Bay of Plenty
subdivision_type2Territorial authority
subdivision_name2Whakatāne District
subdivision_type3Ward
subdivision_name3Rangitāiki General Ward
subdivision_type4Community
subdivision_name4Rangitāiki Community
leader_titleTerritorial authority
leader_nameWhakatāne District Council
leader_title1Regional council
leader_name1Bay of Plenty Regional Council
leader_title2Mayor of Whakatāne
leader_name2
leader_title3East Coast MP
leader_name3
leader_title4Waiariki MP
leader_name4
seat_typeElectorates
seat
unit_prefMetric
area_footnotes
area_total_km251.55
population_as_of2023 Census
population_footnotes
population_total1,257
population_density_km2auto
::

| name = Otakiri | native_name = | native_name_lang = | settlement_type = Rural community | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Bay of Plenty | subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority | subdivision_name2 = Whakatāne District | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Rangitāiki General Ward | subdivision_type4 = Community | subdivision_name4 = Rangitāiki Community | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = Whakatāne District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Bay of Plenty Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Whakatāne | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = East Coast MP | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = Waiariki MP | leader_name4 = | seat_type = Electorates | seat = | government_footnotes = | unit_pref = Metric tags -- | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 51.55 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_as_of = 2023 Census | population_footnotes = | population_total = 1,257 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website = | footnotes = Otakiri () is a rural community just outside Edgecumbe, in the Whakatāne District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of loosening or freeing from tapu" for Ōtākiri.

A dairy factory was established in the area in 1912.

The settlement was known as Tarawera until 1928.

In 2017, the Chinese company which owned rights to water from the Otakiri Springs sought planning and regulatory permission to expand its water bottling operation. Permission was granted in June 2018. Green Party cabinet minister Eugenie Sage's involvement in the decision led to a revolt within the party.

A local crowd-funded environment group appealed the decision in 2019, with support from local iwi Ngāti Awa.

Demographics

Otakiri covers 51.55 km2. It is partly in the Matatā-Otakiri and partly in the Onepu Spring statistical areas.

Otakiri had a population of 1,257 in the 2023 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2018 census, and an increase of 168 people (15.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 630 males, 624 females, and 6 people of other genders in 432 dwellings. 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 252 people (20.0%) aged under 15 years, 177 (14.1%) aged 15 to 29, 618 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 222 (17.7%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 69.2% European (Pākehā); 41.5% Māori; 2.4% Pasifika; 5.3% Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori by 11.9%, and other languages by 4.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 12.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 25.3% Christian, 5.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 1.0% New Age, and 2.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.2%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (13.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 615 (61.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 261 (26.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 132 people (13.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 516 (51.3%) full-time, 162 (16.1%) part-time, and 51 (5.1%) unemployed.

Education

Otakiri School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 0 to 8 students, with a roll of as of

The Otakiri School logo consists of Maori patterns and designs, and shows a pūkeko in front of a triangle, representing the nearby mountain of Putauaki (Mt Edgecumbe). The school's motto is "Learners Forever, Leading the Future".

The school was founded in 1920. It now consists of a field, sports turf, computer suite, library, hard court and several playgrounds, and uses the neighbouring Otakiri District Hall for assemblies, fundraising and school events.

The school hosts a Country Fair and a Calf-Club Day every spring and regular sports competitions. It alternates each year between a talent show and a school show.

Currently, there are four school houses:

Previously, there were five school houses:

  • Te Kanawa/T.K. (Purple) - Named after New Zealand opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
  • Kendall (Black) - Named after Barbara Kendall, a former New Zealand boardsailor
  • Mahy (Orange) - Named after New Zealand author, Margaret Mahy
  • Hillary (Green) - Named after Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer
  • Blake (Red) - Named after yachtsman Sir Peter Blake

References

References

  1. (6 August 2019). "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  2. (1 August 2016). "Bay of Plenty region". [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]].
  3. (1 September 2017). "Locals oppose Otakiri water bottling". Sun Media.
  4. (12 June 2018). "Overseas investment for Otakiri Springs bottling giant approved in principle". [[stuff.co.nz]].
  5. (13 June 2018). "Green Party members revolt over water bottling decision". [[stuff.co.nz]].
  6. (21 May 2019). "Chinese water bottling plant's proposal to take water from Whakatane aquifer 'sustainable', court hears". [[Television New Zealand]].
  7. (23 May 2019). "Local iwi concerned over 'irreversible harm' to Whakatāne aquifer after Chinese water bottling plant granted consent". [[Television New Zealand]].
  8. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
  9. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ.
  10. {{NZ census 2018. 7015131, 7015135, 7015167, 7015168, 7015169, 7015170, 7015171 and 7015165
  11. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  12. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  13. "Otakiri School Official School Website".
  14. "Otakiri School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
  15. "Otakiri School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].

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whakatāne-districtpopulated-places-in-the-bay-of-plenty-region