Otiria
Encyclopedia
Otiria is a rural locality in the Northland Region of New Zealand
's North Island
. It neighbours Moerewa
to the east, with the nearest major town, Kawakawa
a few kilometres further eastwards. Other nearby localities include Pokapu to the south, Orauta to the west, and Hupara to the north.
.
Otiria is presently the northernmost operational point of the national railway network
. It is the terminus of the North Auckland Line, although a disused siding extends into Moerewa. Otiria was a railway junction until the mid-1980s. The Opua Branch
section of the North Auckland Line ran northeast to Kawakawa and Opua
, while the Okaihau Branch
ran northwest to Kaikohe
and Okaihau
. The railway through Otiria was originally built in the early 20th century to connect Opua and Kawakawa with Whangarei
; the through route opened on 13 April 1911. This was quickly followed by the commencement of work on the Okaihau Branch from Otiria; it opened to Kaikohe in May 1914 and Okaihau in October 1923.
In December 1925, passenger trains offering direct service to and from Auckland
began running through Otiria. This was initially the Northland Express
between Auckland and Opua, with carriages for Okaihau detached in Otiria. It was cancelled in November 1956 and replaced by 88 seater
railcar
s that ran between Auckland and Okaihau. Due to declining patronage and the poor reliability of the railcars, this service ended in July 1967. Mixed train
s to Whangarei continued to operate; the final passenger service through Otiria ran on 18 June 1976. The line from Otiria to Opua ceased to be used in 1985, and when the Okaihau Branch closed on 1 November 1987, Otiria became the northernmost locality served by rail in New Zealand. Presently, one freight train is timetabled to operate every weekday each way between Otiria and Whangarei.
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...
's North Island
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...
. It neighbours Moerewa
Moerewa
Moerewa is a small town in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is unusual for its high proportion of Māori - over 80% of the population...
to the east, with the nearest major town, Kawakawa
Kawakawa, New Zealand
Kawakawa is a small town in the Northland Region of northern New Zealand. It had a population of 1347 at the 2006 census, down from 1401 in 2001. Kawakawa developed as a service town when coal was found in the area in 1861, but there is no longer coal mining here...
a few kilometres further eastwards. Other nearby localities include Pokapu to the south, Orauta to the west, and Hupara to the north.
Education
Otiria formerly had a primary school. It closed in 2005 and students transferred to Moerewa School.Transportation
Otiria is situated just off State Highway 1State 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...
.
Otiria is presently the northernmost operational point of the national railway network
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
. It is the terminus of the North Auckland Line, although a disused siding extends into Moerewa. Otiria was a railway junction until the mid-1980s. The Opua Branch
Opua Branch
The Opua Branch or Otiria-Opua Industrial Line, partially still operational as the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, is a former section of the North Auckland Line in the Northland Region of New Zealand, between Otiria and the Bay of Islands township of Opua. The first section was constructed as a...
section of the North Auckland Line ran northeast to Kawakawa and Opua
Opua
Opua is a locality in the Bay of Islands, in the sub-tropical Northland Region of New Zealand. It is notable as the first port for overseas yachts arriving in the country after crossing the Pacific Ocean...
, while the Okaihau Branch
Okaihau Branch
The Okaihau Branch, sometimes known as the Kaikohe Branch and rarely the Rangiahua Branch, was a branch line railway that joined the North Auckland Line of the national rail network of New Zealand at Otiria. It was the most northerly line in New Zealand and was intended to run all the way to Kaitaia...
ran northwest to Kaikohe
Kaikohe
Kaikohe is the central service area for the Far North District of New Zealand, about 260 km from Auckland, situated on State Highway 12 at...
and Okaihau
Okaihau
Okaihau is a small town in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island, just north of Kaikohe. State Highway 1 passes through the town. The 2006 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings recorded Okaihau's population as 717, an increase of 30 people since the 2001 census.- Transport...
. The railway through Otiria was originally built in the early 20th century to connect Opua and Kawakawa with Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
; the through route opened on 13 April 1911. This was quickly followed by the commencement of work on the Okaihau Branch from Otiria; it opened to Kaikohe in May 1914 and Okaihau in October 1923.
In December 1925, passenger trains offering direct service to and from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
began running through Otiria. This was initially the Northland Express
Northland Express
The Northland Express, also known as the Opua Express, was an express passenger train operated by the New Zealand Railways Department between 1925 and 1956. It ran from Auckland via Whangarei to Opua in the Bay of Islands.-Operation:...
between Auckland and Opua, with carriages for Okaihau detached in Otiria. It was cancelled in November 1956 and replaced by 88 seater
NZR RM class (88 seater)
The NZR RM class 88-seaters were a class of railcar used in New Zealand, known unofficially as 'articulateds', 'twinsets', 'Drewrys' and 'Fiats'. They were purchased to replace steam-hauled provincial passenger trains and mixed trains...
railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s that ran between Auckland and Okaihau. Due to declining patronage and the poor reliability of the railcars, this service ended in July 1967. Mixed train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
s to Whangarei continued to operate; the final passenger service through Otiria ran on 18 June 1976. The line from Otiria to Opua ceased to be used in 1985, and when the Okaihau Branch closed on 1 November 1987, Otiria became the northernmost locality served by rail in New Zealand. Presently, one freight train is timetabled to operate every weekday each way between Otiria and Whangarei.