Otaika | |
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Otaika
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Coordinates: | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Northland Region |
District | Whangarei District |
Population (2006) | |
• Total | 993 |
Otaika is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Whangarei is 7 km to the north. The Otaika Stream runs from the north west, through the area, and into the Whangarei 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.[1][2][3]
The population of the Otaika-Portland area was 993 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 18 from 2001.[4]
In the 1830s, Okaika was a Māori village of Te Parawhau hapū. Tiakiriri was the chief.[5] The first Pakeha settlers were Frederick and George Taylor, who were living at Otaika by 1856.[3] 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".[6]
Otaika Valley School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 77.[7]