Oakura
Encyclopedia
Oakura is a small township in Taranaki, in the western North Island
of New Zealand
. It is located on State Highway 45
, 15 kilometres south-west of New Plymouth
. Okato
is 12 km further south-west. The Oakura River flows past the town and into the North Taranaki Bight
. To the south is the Kaitake Range, part of Egmont National Park
.
The population of Oakura was 1,359 in the 2006 Census
, an increase of 105 from 2001.
The Oakura Messenger (TOM) is a monthly publication delivered to all letterboxes in the area. It began in October 2000.
On 5 July 2007 the town was hit by a tornado, which damaged 60 houses.
Oakura is well known for its beach - Oakura Beach. One of only three beaches along the west coast of New Zealand which is north facing, in 2007 it became one of the first Blue Flag
accredited beaches in Oceania. Only two others - Fitzroy and East End beach in nearby New Plymouth - received the same award that year. As of 2010, Oakura Beach has retained its blue flag status.
, Gin Wigmore
, Katchafire
, Supergroove
and Jimmy Barnes
.
Other places of interest include the township's three parks - Matekai, Corbett and the Shearer Reserve. Also, within five minutes drive south west is Lucy's Gully, a popular beauty spot in the Kaitake ranges that hit the national headlines in 2005 when the body of murdered German tourist Birgit Brauer was discovered there.
Koru Pā
is a historic reserve situated 3 km south-east of Oakura township. Thought to be one of the first Māori settlements in Taranaki, Māori tradition recognises that it may have been built as early as 1000AD by Nga Mahanga a Tairi, a hapū
of the Taranaki iwi
.
of 10 and a roll of 262. The school was founded in 1866.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of 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 is located on State Highway 45
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
, 15 kilometres south-west of New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. Okato
Okato
Okato is a small township in rural Taranaki, New Zealand. The population was 531 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 12 from 2001. It is situated about 25 minutes drive around the coast from New Plymouth on State Highway 45. Oakura is 12 km to the north-east, and Warea is 9 km to the...
is 12 km further south-west. The Oakura River flows past the town and into the North Taranaki Bight
North Taranaki Bight
The North Taranaki Bight is the name given to the large bay which extends north and east from the north coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. The name is echoed by the South Taranaki Bight to the south of Cape Egmont....
. To the south is the Kaitake Range, part of Egmont National Park
Egmont National Park
Egmont National Park is located south of New Plymouth, close to the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the mountain which dominates its environs, which itself was named by Captain Cook after John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont, the First Lord of the Admiralty who...
.
The population of Oakura was 1,359 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, an increase of 105 from 2001.
The Oakura Messenger (TOM) is a monthly publication delivered to all letterboxes in the area. It began in October 2000.
On 5 July 2007 the town was hit by a tornado, which damaged 60 houses.
Oakura is well known for its beach - Oakura Beach. One of only three beaches along the west coast of New Zealand which is north facing, in 2007 it became one of the first Blue Flag
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
accredited beaches in Oceania. Only two others - Fitzroy and East End beach in nearby New Plymouth - received the same award that year. As of 2010, Oakura Beach has retained its blue flag status.
Amenities and Services
South Road (better known as Surf Highway 45) is Oakura's main street and most local businesses and services are situated around here, including:- Butlers Reef (public house)
- Four Square grocery store
- Oakura Fish Shop
- A locally owned and operated petrol station and vehicle servicing garage
- Oakura's Volunteer Fire Brigade, located on Dixon Street, services Oakura and surrounding areas. The one appliance service is also a back up for New Plymouth and Okato.
Features and Attractions
Apart from its well known beach, Oakura's main attraction is Butlers Reef - a bar and music venue that has showcased many well known New Zealand and international acts, including Dave DobbynDave Dobbyn
Dave Dobbyn, ONZM is an award-winning New Zealand musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash...
, Gin Wigmore
Gin Wigmore
Virginia "Gin" Wigmore is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. In 2009, she featured on the single "Brother" by Smashproof, which reached #1 on the RIANZ singles charts for 11 weeks. In 2009 she released her debut album Holy Smoke...
, Katchafire
Katchafire
Katchafire is a New Zealand roots reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand.Katchafire formed in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute band and later began writing and performing their own songs...
, Supergroove
Supergroove
Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album Traction was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but recently reformed in 2007.- History :...
and Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
.
Other places of interest include the township's three parks - Matekai, Corbett and the Shearer Reserve. Also, within five minutes drive south west is Lucy's Gully, a popular beauty spot in the Kaitake ranges that hit the national headlines in 2005 when the body of murdered German tourist Birgit Brauer was discovered there.
Koru Pā
Pa
-Places:* Pâ, a town in Burkina Faso* Pâ Department, a department in Burkina Faso* PA postcode area, in Scotland* Province of Palermo, Italy* Palo Alto, California* Panama, ISO country code** .pa, the country code top level domain for Panama...
is a historic reserve situated 3 km south-east of Oakura township. Thought to be one of the first Māori settlements in Taranaki, Māori tradition recognises that it may have been built as early as 1000AD by Nga Mahanga a Tairi, a hapū
Hapu
A hapū is sometimes described as "the basic political unit within Maori society".A named division of a Māori iwi , membership is determined by genealogical descent; a hapū is made up of a number of whānau groups. Generally hapū range in size from 150-200 although there is no upper limit...
of the Taranaki iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
.
Education
Oakura School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 10 and a roll of 262. The school was founded in 1866.
Clubs and organisations
- Some of the records concerning the early days of the Oakura Library are held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. See
Māori
- This is a reprint of a title published in Auckland: under the direction of the Chief Judge, Native Land Court by H. Brett, 1879.
New Zealand Wars
- This is Plate 5 from Journals of the Deputy Quartermaster General in New Zealand, 1864. An electronic copy is available from the National Library of New Zealand.
People
- The papers of Edward Leslie Hughes are held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. Within this collection is a manuscript concerning the history of Oakura. See
- Some of the papers of Stephenson Percy SmithStephenson Percy SmithStephenson Percy Smith was a New Zealand ethnologist and surveyor. He founded The Polynesian Society.-Early life and career as a surveyor :...
are held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. Within this collection is a Taranaki Military Settlers' Land Order, allocating Smith land in the Oakura area. See
- The papers of Marc Frederic Voullaire are held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
. Within this collection is material concerning the history of the Taranaki dairy industry, the location of the mission station of the Lutheran missionary, Johann Riemenschneider.. See
- Ruhira Matekai (also known as Lucy Stevens) was a well-known Māori woman who lived in Oakura in the 19th century. Lucy's Gully and Matekai Park are named after her. See
- Professional surfer Paige HarebPaige HarebPaige Frances Hareb is a professional surfer from Oakura Beach, New Zealand. In December 2008 she became the first New Zealand woman to qualify for the ASP Women's World Tour....
is from Oakura.