Karitane

Karitane
Settlement
Karitane Location of Karitane within New Zealand
Coordinates: 45°39′S 170°40′E / 45.650°S 170.667°E / -45.650; 170.667Coordinates: 45°39′S 170°40′E / 45.650°S 170.667°E / -45.650; 170.667
Country	New Zealand
Region	Otago
Territorial authority	Dunedin City Council
Population (2006 census)[1]
• Urban Area	345
Time zone	NZST (UTC+12)
• Summer (DST)	NZDT (UTC+13)

The seaside settlement of Karitane is located within the limits of the city of Dunedin in New Zealand, 35 kilometres to the north of the city centre.

Set in rolling country near the mouth of the Waikouaiti River, the town is a popular holiday retreat for Dunedinites.

Close to the settlement is the site of Huriawa Pā, which was a major fortification in pre-European New Zealand set in a strong position on a rocky promontory above the coast.

Karitane, Plunket and Truby King

The name Karitane is often associated by older New Zealanders with pioneering paediatrician and psychiatrist Sir Truby King, founder of the Plunket Society. Karitane's name is echoed in many New Zealand child-related services and products:

• Plunket set up a string of neonatal care institutions known throughout the country as Karitane Hospitals, starting here in Truby King's house, Kingscliff^[2][3]
• A type of infant formula, Karicare, now made by Nutricia, as well as earlier brands Karilac and Kariol made by the Karitane Products Society are named after the town^[3][4]
• Karitane Nurse (historically) a type of nurse in New Zealand specialising in infant care^[3]
• Community Karitane, a type of community worker in New Zealand advising on parenting issues such as breastfeeding, nutrition, sleep and behaviour^[5]
• Karitane yellow, an informal name for a (baby-excrement-coloured) unpleasant shade of yellow^[6]

Truby King also worked at nearby Seacliff Lunatic Asylum.

History

Waikouaiti River estuary at Karitane; fishing wharf and channel to the Pacific Ocean at right, Matanaka headland at left background.

The site of the present settlement of Karitane includes that of the pre-European Māori kaik, or undefended village. Giant Moas were likely to be hunted in the area.^[7] It also encompasses Huriawa on the adjacent peninsula, a Pa or fortified village, recalled in oral tradition for sieges in the late 17th or early 18th centuries. It is also the site of the whaling station set up by Long, Wright and Richards in 1837. That was known as Waikouaiti, but the name later became transferred to the present township of that name established by Johnny Jones as a farming settlement in 1840, on the north side of the estuary.

In 1838 Jones acquired the Karitane whaling station, primarily targeting Southern Rights and Humpbacks, resulting in severe depletion of local populations for these species. After sending pioneers to start his farming settlement he sent a Wesleyan missionary to join them in May 1840, James Watkin, the first in the South Island. However Watkin set up his mission station at Karitane. He was living there with his wife and children in a purpose-built house by late 1842. In 1867 George O'Brien painted a memorable view looking north from the Karitane waterfront, now in the Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin.

Gallery

• 

  Karitane Beach

• 

  Kayakers and a Hooker's Sea Lion resting in Karitane Harbor

• 

  View of the Karitane harbour and seaside on a dark and cloudy day

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karitane.