Otaika

Otaika (Māori: Ōtaika) is a suburb of Whangārei 7 km south of the city in Northland, New Zealand. The Otaika Stream runs from the north west, through the area, and into the Whangārei Harbour. State Highway 1 runs through the locality. The hill Tikorangi (with a summit 161 m above sea level) lies to the South. Tikorangi is a source of limestone for Portland Cement.[3][4][5]

This article is about the location in New Zealand. For the Polynesian dish, see 'Ota 'ika.

Otaika
Coordinates: 35°47′13″S 174°18′20″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictWhangarei District
WardBream Bay Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWhangarei District Council
 • Regional councilNorthland Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total41.34 km2 (15.96 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2022)[2]
 • Total1,500
 • Density36/km2 (94/sq mi)

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of lying in a heap" for Ōtāika.[6]

History

In the 1830s, Okaika was a Māori village of Te Parawhau hapū. Tiakiriri was the chief.[7] The first Pakeha settlers were Frederick and George Taylor, who were living at Otaika by 1856.[5] More Pākehā settled further up the Okaika Valley around this time. George Edge's wandering geese were sometimes eaten by locals, leading to a nickname for the valley of "Kai-goose".[8]

The local Toetoe Marae and Toetoe meeting house, located north of the village on the northern shores of the Otaika Stream, is a tribal meeting ground for the Ngāpuhi hapū of Te Parawhau and Te Uriroroi, and the Ngāti Whātua hapū of Te Uriroroi.[9][10]

Demographics

The statistical area of Otaika-Portland, which also includes Portland, covers 41.34 km2 (15.96 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,500 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 36 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,107—    
20131,146+0.50%
20181,338+3.15%
Source: [11]

Otaika-Portland had a population of 1,338 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 192 people (16.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 231 people (20.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 444 households, comprising 687 males and 648 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 41.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 270 people (20.2%) aged under 15 years, 228 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 648 (48.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 195 (14.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.4% European/Pākehā, 30.5% Māori, 3.8% Pacific peoples, 2.0% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.1% had no religion, 27.4% were Christian, 2.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (12.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 234 (21.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 168 people (15.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 570 (53.4%) people were employed full-time, 159 (14.9%) were part-time, and 36 (3.4%) were unemployed.[11]

Education

Otaika Valley School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 116 students as of April 2023.[12][13]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  2. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 7. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  4. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 27. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  5. Pickmere, Nancy Preece (1986). Whangarei: The Founding Years. p. 65.
  6. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  7. Pickmere, p 14
  8. Pickmere, pp 65-66
  9. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  10. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  11. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Otaika-Portland (107700). 2018 Census place summary: Otaika-Portland
  12. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  13. Education Counts: Otaika Valley School
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