Kokatahi
Kokatahi is a locality on the West Coast of New Zealand. Hokitika is about 15 km to the north-west. The Kokatahi River flows through the area and into the Hokitika River to the north-west.[1][2]
Kokatahi | |
|---|---|
  Kokatahi | |
| Coordinates: 42°49′58″S 171°2′0″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | West Coast |
| District | Westland District |
| Electorates | West Coast-Tasman Te Tai Tonga |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7881 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Farming in the area started in the late 1860s to produce oats and vegetables to feed the gold rush miners and their horses. Dairy farming makes up a large percentage of the farms in and around Kokatahi. [3] In 1900-1901 a dairy factory opened at Kokatahi.[4]
Education
Kokatahi-Kowhitirangi School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school[5] with a roll of 24 as of April 2023.[6]
Police shootings
On 4 October 1941, Stanley Graham went on a shooting rampage after a neighbour of Graham's, Anker Madsen, complained to Constable Edward Best, stationed in nearby Kaniere, that Graham was accusing him of poisoning his cattle. Best decided not to respond in order to give Graham time to calm himself.
Best later returned with additional policeman and tried to disarm Graham. In the process Graham then shot and killed four policeman.
Graham was later shot dead on 17 October 1941 after a massive police manhunt lead by Commissioner of Police Denis Cummings.
Notes
- Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 68. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
- Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 156. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
- Rogers, Anna (2005). Illustrated History of the West Coast. p. 61. ISBN 0-7900-1022-4.
- Rogers, p 100
- Education Counts: Kokatahi-Kowhitirangi School
- "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.