Otorohanga
Encyclopedia
Otorohanga is a north King Country town at the southern end of the Waikato
region in the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is located 53 kilometres south of Hamilton
and 18 kilometres north of Te Kuiti
, on the Waipa River
. It is a service town for the surrounding dairy
farming district, and is recognized as the "gateway" to the Waitomo Caves
and as the "Kiwiana Town
" of New Zealand, and up until 2007 held a yearly 'Kiwiana Festival.'
Otorohanga is internationally renowned for its local Kiwi House. The Kiwi House was the first place in the world where the general public could view a kiwi in captivity. Its visitor numbers have remained constant throughout the years, recording an average of 5,000 per month over 2007-2008.. Although Otorohanga is internationally renowned for its Kiwi House, it also has a public library, a swimming complex, a Woolworths Supermarket and a 24 hour McDonalds.
.
As a show of solidarity for Henry Harrod of Palmerston North and in anticipation of actions against other similar sounding businesses, it was proposed that every business in Otorohanga should change their names to "Harrods".
With support of the District Council, Otorohanga "officially" changed the town's name to "Harrodsville". After being lampooned in the British tabloid newspapers, Al Fayed dropped the legal action and "Harrodsville" and its shops reverted to their former names.
The "send up" raised widespread media interest around the world, with The BBC World Service and newspapers in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Canada giving illustrated coverage.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region in the 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...
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 53 kilometres south of Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
and 18 kilometres north of Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 80 km south of Hamilton....
, on the Waipa River
Waipa River
The Waipa River is in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. The headwaters are in the Rangitoto Range east of Te Kuiti. It flows north for 115 kilometres, passing through Otorohanga and Pirongia, before flowing into the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia...
. It is a service town for the surrounding dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
farming district, and is recognized as the "gateway" to the Waitomo Caves
Waitomo Caves
The Waitomo Caves are a village and cave system forming a major tourist attraction in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. The community of Waitomo Caves itself is very small, though the village has many temporary service workers...
and as the "Kiwiana Town
Kiwiana
Kiwiana are certain items and icons from New Zealand's heritage, especially from around the middle of the 20th century that are seen as representing iconic Kiwi elements...
" of New Zealand, and up until 2007 held a yearly 'Kiwiana Festival.'
District Council
Otorohanga is part of, and the seat of, the Otorohanga District Council. The council has a population of 9,075, with Otorohanga being the main centre. Other places in the district include Te Kawa and Kawhia. The district has a land area of 2,063.44 km² (796.70 sq mi). Otorohanga is the gateway to the Waitomo Caves, which is located 15 minutes away. The Otorohanga District was declared in 1979.Otorohanga is internationally renowned for its local Kiwi House. The Kiwi House was the first place in the world where the general public could view a kiwi in captivity. Its visitor numbers have remained constant throughout the years, recording an average of 5,000 per month over 2007-2008.. Although Otorohanga is internationally renowned for its Kiwi House, it also has a public library, a swimming complex, a Woolworths Supermarket and a 24 hour McDonalds.
Harrodsville
In 1986, the town briefly changed its name to "Harrodsville". This was in protest to a restaurateur, Henry Harrod, who was being forced to change the name of his restaurant following threatening lawsuits from Mohammed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrod's department store in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
As a show of solidarity for Henry Harrod of Palmerston North and in anticipation of actions against other similar sounding businesses, it was proposed that every business in Otorohanga should change their names to "Harrods".
With support of the District Council, Otorohanga "officially" changed the town's name to "Harrodsville". After being lampooned in the British tabloid newspapers, Al Fayed dropped the legal action and "Harrodsville" and its shops reverted to their former names.
The "send up" raised widespread media interest around the world, with The BBC World Service and newspapers in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Canada giving illustrated coverage.