Okoroire

Okoroire (Maori: Ōkoroire) is a small settlement in the South Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island,[1] centered around the Okoroire Hot Springs.[2] The place name means 'place of the koroire / toroire, an extinct species of ring-necked duck.[3]

The hot springs consist of three naturally heated geothermal pools dug in 1880, which were extensively redeveloped in 2017 and 2018.[4] The pools are surrounded by bush and ferns.[5] During the late 19th century the pools were used by the sick for treatment and by Māori women to cleanse after giving birth.[6]

Local attractions include whitewater rafting, bird-watching and fishing. Local walks include the Three Kauri Track, the Wairere Falls walk and Te Waihou walkway.[2]

Okoroire Hotel, a historic country pub built in 1889 from ancient-timber, is located nearby near the banks of the Waihou River.[6] It has been owned by the same family for three generations.[2] The hotel was sold to a Chinese business in 2014.[7] It made staff cutbacks in 2018, and the next year was forced to sell by the Overseas Investment Office after promised redevelopment had not occurred . [8][9]

In 2016, members of the Chiefs rugby team were accused of exposing themselves to a stripper during an end-of-season event at the hot springs.[10]

Education

Kuranui Primary School is a co-educational state primary school,[11][12] with a roll of 52 as of April 2023.[13][14]

Railway station

Okoroire was a flag station[15] near Rangipai School,[16] about 3 mi (4.8 km) west of the hotel,[17] on the Kinleith Branch, from 8 March 1886. It was 94 m (308 ft) above sea level.[18] In 1890 it had no shelter shed, or siding, but by 1896 the station had a shelter shed, platform, cart approach and urinals. By 1911 it also had a 30 ft (9.1 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed, sheep yards and a passing loop for 19 wagons. A caretaker was appointed in 1913 and a longer platform and an addition to the shelter shed were made in 1917.[19] The station closed to passengers on 31 July 1962,[20] to all traffic except stock from 18 August 1968 and to stock on Monday 1 June 1970.[19] Only a single track and a plantation remains.[21]

References
  1. Hariss, Gavin. "Okoroire, Waikato". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  2. "Okoroire". southwaikato.govt.nz. South Waikato District Council.
  3. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. Kirkeby, Luke (29 August 2018). "Redevelopment proves right for historic Waikato springs". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  5. "Three of the best... natural hot pools". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald. 5 August 2012.
  6. Kirkeby, Luke (13 December 2017). "Historic South Waikato hot springs given spruce up". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  7. Tarrant, Petrice (13 August 2014). "Okoroire hotel sells to Chinese company". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  8. Kirkeby, Luke. "South Waikato rife with job redundancies". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  9. Williams, David. "Overseas Investment Offices forces foreign owners to sell New Zealand hotel". Stuff. Newsroom.co.nz.
  10. Malone, Audrey (5 August 2016). "Chiefs allegedly exposed themselves to stripper". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  11. "Kuranui Primary School Official School Website". kuranuischoolnz.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  12. "Kuranui Primary School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  13. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  14. "Kuranui Primary School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  15. "Page 6 Advertisements Column 2". New Zealand Herald. 21 August 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  16. "Sheet N66 Matamata". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1978. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  17. "Okoroire". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  18. New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  19. "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  20. Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  21. "State Hwy 29". Google Maps. Retrieved 19 April 2021.

37.951886°S 175.805399°E / -37.951886; 175.805399

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