Katiki
Encyclopedia
Katiki is a small settlement in North Otago
, New Zealand
. It lies between the townships of Palmerston
and Hampden
on State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
at the northern end of Katiki Beach, close to the Moeraki
Peninsula. The tip of the peninsula, Katiki Point, is the site of Katiki Point Lighthouse
. The scenic reserve of Trotter's Gorge is located just inland of Katiki.
There is uncertainty about the origin of the name, though it could have originally been Ka Tiki ("The carved figures"). The settlement was called Kartigi until 1927, this former name stressing the local Southern Maori
pronunciation.
The town no longer has any signage but for a small bridge sign 'Katiki bridge'. In the 1950's Katiki had a small school but has since declined dramatically in population. The few families that live in Katiki have been there for generations and on two occasions can be traced back to being early settlers in the area. Further north along the coast from the lighthouse are two small settlements called the Katiki Kaiks. The houses (roughly 50 of them) here are very basic and largely holiday homes.
The area is very special for its history. Many years ago when Moeraki was a small Maori fishing village with only a few early settlers a notable chief declared that if people were caught drinking they would be exiled to the Kaiks. Along with people caught drinking, half-caste families were also sent there. As a result there is now a sacred urupa (maori cemetery) there with unmarked graves. Property is difficult to attain there as it cannot be purchased, only leased.
Katiki lighthouse is home to the famous 'yellow eyed penguin' (hoiho), one of the rarest penguins in the world. It's visitors can almost be guaranteed to see fur seals on their visit to the viewing huts. The area is also a local fishing hot spot for blue cod in particular. The lighthouse itself was one of the last lighthouses to be manned.
North Otago
The district of North Otago in New Zealand covers the area of Otago between Shag Point and the Waitaki River, and extends inland to the west as far as the village of Omarama . The large east-coast town of Oamaru serves as North Otago's main centre...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It lies between the townships of Palmerston
Palmerston, New Zealand
The town of Palmerston, in New Zealand's South Island lies 50 kilometres to the north of the city of Dunedin. It is the largest town in the Waihemo Ward of the Waitaki District with a population of 890 residents...
and Hampden
Hampden, New Zealand
Hampden is a rural settlement defined as a "populated area less than a town" in North Otago, New Zealand. It is located close to the North Otago coast, some 30 kilometres south of Oamaru, and 50 minutes north of Otago's largest city, Dunedin. It was named after the English politician John Hampden...
on State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
at the northern end of Katiki Beach, close to the Moeraki
Moeraki
Moeraki is a small fishing village on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was once the location of a whaling station. In the 1870s, local interests believed it could become the main port for the north Otago area and a railway line, the Moeraki Branch, was built to the settlement...
Peninsula. The tip of the peninsula, Katiki Point, is the site of Katiki Point Lighthouse
Katiki Point Lighthouse
The Katiki Point Lighthouse, also known as Moeraki Lighthouse, shone for the first time on April 22, 1878, following several accidents on the dangerous reefs around the area, to make the area safer for ships that sailed past on their way to Port Chalmers, Dunedin...
. The scenic reserve of Trotter's Gorge is located just inland of Katiki.
There is uncertainty about the origin of the name, though it could have originally been Ka Tiki ("The carved figures"). The settlement was called Kartigi until 1927, this former name stressing the local Southern Maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
pronunciation.
The town no longer has any signage but for a small bridge sign 'Katiki bridge'. In the 1950's Katiki had a small school but has since declined dramatically in population. The few families that live in Katiki have been there for generations and on two occasions can be traced back to being early settlers in the area. Further north along the coast from the lighthouse are two small settlements called the Katiki Kaiks. The houses (roughly 50 of them) here are very basic and largely holiday homes.
The area is very special for its history. Many years ago when Moeraki was a small Maori fishing village with only a few early settlers a notable chief declared that if people were caught drinking they would be exiled to the Kaiks. Along with people caught drinking, half-caste families were also sent there. As a result there is now a sacred urupa (maori cemetery) there with unmarked graves. Property is difficult to attain there as it cannot be purchased, only leased.
Katiki lighthouse is home to the famous 'yellow eyed penguin' (hoiho), one of the rarest penguins in the world. It's visitors can almost be guaranteed to see fur seals on their visit to the viewing huts. The area is also a local fishing hot spot for blue cod in particular. The lighthouse itself was one of the last lighthouses to be manned.