Otakeho
1928 store of Hubert James Eaves
1928 store of Hubert James Eaves
Map
Interactive map of Otakeho
Coordinates: 39°32′56″S 174°02′24″E / 39.549°S 174.040°E / -39.549; 174.040
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
Territorial authoritySouth Taranaki District
Ward
  • Taranaki Coastal General Ward
  • Eltham-Kaponga General Ward
  • Te Kūrae Māori Ward
Community
  • Taranaki Coastal Community
  • Eltham-Kaponga Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Taranaki District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of South TaranakiPhil Nixon[3]
 • Whanganui MPCarl Bates[4]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[5]
Area
 • Total
31.46 km2 (12.15 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[2]
 • Total
177
 • Density5.63/km2 (14.6/sq mi)

Otakeho, meaning place of Takeho,[6] is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand, west of the Otakeho Stream (rising on Mount Taranaki and reaching the Tasman Sea at Otakeho.[7] It is on SH45.[8]

It has a hall (built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee),[9] a boarded up store[10] (taken over by H J Eaves in 1904,[11] when it sold a wide variety of groceries, ironmongery, drapery, boots,[12] farm, garden, sporting and household goods.[13][14] It burnt down in July 1927[15][16] and was rebuilt about April 1928)[17] a war memorial[18] and a few houses.

3.8 km (2.4 mi) west of Otakeho[19] is Ngāruahine's Tawhitinui Marae.[20] A kohanga reo has been run at the marae since the 1980s.[21]

Otakeho has a small sandy beach, beyond Dingle Road,[22] at the foot of 40 m (130 ft) high cliffs.[23] It is used for fishing[22] and has a poorly protected,[24] nationally threatened, variety of Craspedia, Craspedia Otakeho.[25]

The Ōpunake to New Plymouth bus runs through Otakeho daily in each direction, except at weekends.[26] A bus has run since 1915[27] and was preceded by Royal Mail coaches,[28][29] which changed horses there from 1881.[30]

History

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Otakeho was, like Parihaka, a part of the Waimate Plains confiscated from Ngāti Ruanui under the Settlements Act 1863,[31] so that precautions were taken during the survey of the main road in 1878.[32] In 1880 there was a camp of No.1 Company of the Armed Constabulary at Otakeho, when the road was being built.[33][34] Later in the year the confiscated land was being sold,[35] for £16 to £24 per acre.[36] Otakeho may have been an area where ploughing protests occurred,[37] though it stopped on request.[38] A phone line to Manaia was built about 1883.[39] Otakeho Bridge was swept away by a flood in 1893.[40] Gravel was put on the mud roads around the period 1893[41] to 1913.[42]

Growth

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Otakeho grew from the 1880s to the early decades of the twentieth century, becoming a much larger village than the current one, its first store, bakery and post and telegraph office being opened by Mr Blennerhasset in 1882 (his murder in a neighbours' dispute in 1901 briefly put Otakeho in the headlines).[43][44][45][46] In 1883 a butcher and smithy opened, a school in 1884, a tinsmith's and in 1896 a public hall. A debating society was formed in 1891.[47] The 1894 school[48] closed in 2003,[18] though the buildings remain.[49] An 1893 Category 2 listed church was designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere,[50] was extended with a vestry in 1954,[51] closed in 2015, deconsecrated in 2017,[52] sold in 2018[53] and moved to Pihama in 2021.[50] The churchyard wasn't used as a burial ground.[54] The village also had carriers,[55][56] a dairy factory,[57] which occupied several buildings[58] and three butchers.[59]

Hotel

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Otakeho Hotel about 1890

Tenders for the hotel were invited in 1881,[60] building started in September 1881,[61] and the 20-room[62] Otakeho Hotel opened in January 1882.[63] It was rebuilt[64] after a 1907 fire[65] and burnt down again[66] in January 1980.[67]

Dairy

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In 1888 Newton King together with R. Cook and J.C. George founded the Crown Dairy Company which started by taking over three unsuccessful co-operatives at Manaia, Otakeho and Opunake.[59][68]

Demographics

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Otakeho locality covers 31.46 km2 (12.15 sq mi).[1] The locality is part of the larger Taungatara statistical area.[69]

The population was once almost double the current total, being 75 in 1906,[70] 314 in 1921[71] and 305 in 1951.[72]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006219—    
2013189−2.08%
2018198+0.93%
2023177−2.22%
Source: [2][73]

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.[74] 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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

Notable people

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See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017386. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Declaration of Results of Election and Poll" (PDF). South Taranaki District Council. 17 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Otakeho | NZ History". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Otakeho Water Quantity Data". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  9. ^ Ron. "Otakeho Hall - 1897". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  10. ^ "2071 South Rd Otakeho, Taranaki". Google Maps. June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Impressions of Tasmania. Taranaki Daily News". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 March 1929. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  12. ^ "The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Taranaki". ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz. 1908. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Hawera & Normanby Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 October 1908. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Hawera & Normanby Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 July 1913. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  15. ^ PhilBee NZ (social historian) (6 March 2021), Otakeho: HJ Eaves’ general store (c.1928)(1), retrieved 10 November 2025
  16. ^ "Blaze at Otakeho. Hawera Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 July 1927. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Hawera Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 April 1928. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Otakeho war memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. ^ "2071 South Road to Tawhtinui Marae". Google maps. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Tawhitinui Marae". Archived from the original on 22 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Tawhitinui Marae". Toi Foundation. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Inventory of coastal areas of local or regional significance in the Taranaki Region" (PDF). January 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2017.
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  42. ^ "Waimate West County Council. Hawera & Normanby Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 12 September 1913. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  43. ^ "The Otakeho tragedy. Opunake Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 January 1902. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  44. ^ "The scene of the Otakeho murder. Auckland Weekly News". kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz. 16 January 1902. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  45. ^ "The residence of Mr W H Blennnerhassett. Auckland Weekly News". kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz. 16 January 1902. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  46. ^ "Mr W Hill who shot dead Mr W A Blennerhassett and son. Auckland Weekly News". kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz. 9 January 1902. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
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  48. ^ "EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE. HAWERA STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 May 1934. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  49. ^ "2121 South Rd Otakeho, Taranaki". Google Maps. February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  50. ^ a b "St John the Divine Church (Former) [Relocated]". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  51. ^ Bruce Dickson Architecture (May 2020). "St. John the Divine Historic Church 4 Campbell Road – Otakeho" (PDF).
  52. ^ "St John's memorials, Otakeho | NZ History". nzhistory.govt.nz. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  53. ^ "Otakeho church tender offers closed, attracts a flurry of interest". Stuff. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  54. ^ Louise McLay (January 2020). "Land Use Consent to Relocate St John the Divine Historic Church" (PDF).
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  58. ^ Ron. "T.L. Joll Co-op - Otakeho Factory". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  59. ^ a b G.I. Rawson (1967). "The evolution of the rural settlement pattern of lowland south Taranaki 1860 - 1920". ir.canterbury.ac.nz. Archived from the original on 15 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
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  66. ^ "Nicholls Story Farming Agricultural Vetenarian Scholarships BA Taranaki". Bashford-Nicholls Trust. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
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  72. ^ "1951 census". statsnz.contentdm.oclc.org. p. 95. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  73. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017386.
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  75. ^ "District's Tribute To Sir William le Fleming's Service. Taranaki Daily News". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 20 November 1945. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
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