Ōkato

Ōkato is a small town in rural Taranaki, New Zealand. It is situated about 25 minutes drive around the coast from New Plymouth on State Highway 45. Ōakura is 12 km to the north-east, and Warea is 9 km to the south-west.[3][4] The place offers popular rocky surfing spots around coastal beaches. The town was established as a military settlement in the 1860s.[5]

This article is about the township in New Zealand. For the Russian classification document, see OKATO.

Ōkato
Hempton Hall in Ōkato in 1968
Hempton Hall in Ōkato in 1968
Coordinates: 39°12′S 173°53′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki Region
Territorial authorityNew Plymouth District
Ward
  • Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward
  • Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
CommunityKaitake Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityNew Plymouth District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total710
 • Density700/km2 (1,800/sq mi)

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of Kato" for Ōkato.[6] While "Kato" was probably a personal name, an alternative translation is "place of full tide/tsunami".[7] In July 2020, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Ōkato by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[8]

Ōkato has all the elements of a New Zealand rural community with sporting facilities (rugby grounds, bowling club, squash courts, tennis courts and swimming pool), Coastal Taranaki School, a police station, and a volunteer fire brigade.

Ōkato was also notable as the home of Okato Cheese which was manufactured by the Okato Co-operative Dairy Company. This manufacturing site closed some years after merging with Egmont Co-operative Dairy. Activities in the Ōkato area include the Stony River walkway, which has a number of locations for photographing Mt Taranaki.

The rural community of Puniho is located just south of Ōkato.

Demographics

Ōkato is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 710 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 696 people per km2. Ōkato is part of the larger Kaitake statistical area.

Historical population for Ōkato
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006531—    
2013561+0.79%
2018606+1.56%
Source: [9]
Boarded up store in Ōkato

Ōkato had a population of 606 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 45 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 75 people (14.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 228 households, comprising 291 males and 315 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female, with 153 people (25.2%) aged under 15 years, 93 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 276 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 84 (13.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.1% European/Pākehā, 23.8% Māori, 0.5% Pacific peoples, 0.5% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.9% had no religion, 29.2% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.5% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 84 (18.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 84 (18.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 30 people (6.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 213 (47.0%) people were employed full-time, 75 (16.6%) were part-time, and 18 (4.0%) were unemployed.[9]

Kaitake statistical area

Kaitake statistical area covers 170.20 km2 (65.71 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,310 as of June 2023,[10] with a population density of 14 people per km2.

Historical population for Kaitake
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,554—    
20131,632+0.70%
20181,932+3.43%
Source: [11]

Kaitake had a population of 1,932 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 300 people (18.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 378 people (24.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 687 households, comprising 966 males and 972 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 39.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 471 people (24.4%) aged under 15 years, 270 (14.0%) aged 15 to 29, 969 (50.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 225 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.7% European/Pākehā, 13.8% Māori, 0.8% Pacific peoples, 1.6% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.1% had no religion, 31.8% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 312 (21.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 234 (16.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 261 people (17.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 771 (52.8%) people were employed full-time, 291 (19.9%) were part-time, and 51 (3.5%) were unemployed.[11]

Education

Coastal Taranaki School is a coeducational composite (years 1-13) school with a roll of 302 as of April 2023.[12][13] The school was formed in 2005 from the merger of Newall School, Okato Primary School, Okato College and Warea School. It was initially called Okato Area School but changed its name.[14]

Notable people

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  2. "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, map 34, ISBN 0-7900-0952-8
  4. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, map 84, ISBN 1-877333-20-4
  5. Lambert, Ron (7 September 2016). "Taranaki Places - Cape Egmont - Ōkato". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  6. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  7. "Okato". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  8. "Notice of approved official geographic names" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017193–7017195.
  10. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaitake (216700). 2018 Census place summary: Kaitake
  12. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  13. Education Counts: Coastal Taranaki School
  14. "Mergers, Closures and New Schools, January 2005 - December 2005". Education Counts. Archived from the original (XLS) on 6 September 2019.

Further reading

General historical works
  • History and reminiscences of Okato: Okato 100, 1865-1965, Okato, [N.Z.] ; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Okato Centennial Committee ; Taranaki Newspapers, 1965
  • Kahui-Newall School and districts, 75th jubilee, n.p.: Newall-Kahui Jubilee Committee, 1982
  • Hickford, Lawrence D. (1978), The land I have lived in and Okato as I knew it: reflections and recollections, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Taranaki County Council ; Taranaki Newspapers
  • Rye, K.J. (1990), Okato jubilee: 125 years, 1865-1990, Okato, [N.Z.]: Okato 125th Jubilee Committee
  • Skinner, W. H. (1935), History and reminiscences of the Okato district written by W.H. Skinner, W.K. Howitt and residents of the district and republished from the "Taranaki Herald" on the occasion of the septuagenary celebrations and re-union, 1865-1935, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Herald

Arts and literature
  • Virtual TART: art from Taranaki, New Zealand (CD-ROM), Okato, [N.Z.]: Puniho Art Press, 2000

Business history
  • Okato and Puniho Co-operative Dairy Factory Company (1955), Golden jubilee, 1905-1955, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: McLeod and Slade

Anglican
  • The centenary of St Paul's Church, Okato, 1897-1997 and Okato Methodist Church (St Luke's), 1898-1998, Okato, [N.Z.]: Okato Co-operating Parish, 1997, ISBN 0-473-04613-X
  • Clemance, H.J. (1972), Saint Paul's, Okato: seventy-fifth jubilee of the parochial district, Okato, [N.Z.]: St. Paul's Anglican Parish

Methodist
  • The centenary of St Paul's Church, Okato, 1897-1997 and Okato Methodist Church (St Luke's), 1898-1998, Okato, [N.Z.]: Okato Co-operating Parish, 1997, ISBN 0-473-04613-X

Māori
  • Prickett, Nigel (1983), Maori fortifications of the Okato District, Taranaki, Auckland, [N.Z.]: Auckland Institute and Museum
  • Smith, Lee; Benton, Richard (1982), The Maori language in New Plymouth and Okato / Purongorongo whakamohio ma nga kaiuru ki te toronga tuatahi, 1973-1978 [Information bulletin (Survey of Language Use in Maori Households and Communities) ; 7], Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Council for Educational Research

New Zealand wars

People
  • The diaries of the local farmer Alexander Cassie are held at "Puke Ariki". Access to them is restricted, but they contain childhood reminiscences and incidents from the 1910s. See "Cassie, Alexander, 1900- (B873)". Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  • The papers of the local historian and farmer Marc Voullaire are held at "Puke Ariki".. This collection contains research carried out on the Taranaki dairy industry, the missionary station of Johann Riemenschneider (and other matters), and can be seen at "Voullaire, Marc Frederic, 1885-1964 (B900)". Retrieved 11 January 2008.

Schools
  • Kahui-Newall School and districts, 75th jubilee, n.p.: Newall-Kahui Jubilee Committee, 1982
  • Okato District High School and College, 1950-2000: 50th anniversary, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Legacy Books, 2000
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