Otakeho is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand is west of the Otakeho Stream (rising on Mount Taranaki and reaching the Tasman Sea at Otakeho),[6] and on SH45.[7]
It has a hall (built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee),[8] a boarded up store[9] (taken over by H J Eaves in 1904,[10] burnt down in July 1927[11][12] and rebuilt about April 1928)[13] a war memorial[14] and a few houses. To the west of Otakeho is Ngāruahine's Tawhitinui Marae.[15]
Otakeho has a small sandy beach, beyond Dingle Road,[16] at the foot of 40m (130ft) high cliffs.[17] It is used for fishing[16] and has a poorly protected,[18]nationally threatened, variety of Craspedia, Craspedia Otakeho.[19]
The Ōpunake to New Plymouth bus runs through Otakeho daily in each direction, except at weekends.[20] A bus has run since 1915[21] and was preceded by Royal Mail coaches.[22]
History
Otakeho was, like Parihaka, a part of the Waimate Plainsconfiscated from Ngāti Ruanui under the Settlements Act 1863,[23] so that precautions were taken during the survey of the main road in 1878.[24] In 1880 there was a camp of No.1 Company at Otakeho, when the road was being built.[25] Later in the year the confiscated land was being sold,[26] for £16 to £24 per acre.[27] Otakeho may have been an area where ploughing protests occurred,[28] though it stopped on request.[29]
It once also had a school (1884[30]-2003[14] - the buildings remain),[31] an 1893 Category 2 listed church (designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere,[32] was sold in 2018[33] and moved to Pihama in 2021),[32] an hotel[34] (rebuilt[35] after a 1907 fire[36] and since burnt down again),[37] a post office, a smithy, a dairy factory,[38] which occupied several buildings,[39] a baker and three butchers.[40]
In 1888 Newton King together with R. Cook and J.C. George founded the Crown Dairy Company which commenced operations by taking over the three unsuccessful co-operatives at Manaia, Otakeho and Opunake.[40]
The population was once almost double the current total, being 75 in 1906,[41] 314 in 1921[42] and 305 in 1951.[43]
Otakeho had a population of 177 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 21 people (−10.6%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 12 people (−6.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 93 males and 84 females in 66 dwellings.[46] 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 36 (20.3%) aged 15 to 29, 84 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 18 (10.2%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.1% European (Pākehā), 23.7% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 1.7% Asian, and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 5.1%, and other languages by 3.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 28.8% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.6%, and 11.9% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (8.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 84 (60.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 (32.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 18 people (13.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 78 (56.5%) full-time, 30 (21.7%) part-time, and 6 (4.3%) unemployed.[5]
Notable people
Margaret Jane Briggs (17 April 1892 – 5 November 1961) a show‑ring rider born in Otakeho
Frederick Arthur Lye (1881 – 3 October 1949) a Liberal and United MP (1922-35), who farmed at Otakeho from 1906 to 1918
William Sheridan (12 March 1858 – 16 November 1931) a Tasmanian Labour MP (1909-28), who ran a store at Otakeho, from 1900 until sold to his brother in law, H J Eaves in 1904
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