Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Otakeho

Otakeho, meaning place of Takeho, is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand, west of the Otakeho Stream (rising on Mount Taranaki and reaching the Tasman Sea at Otakeho. It is on SH45.

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Jul 25, 2026
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Wikipedia ↗
Otakeho
1928 store of Hubert James Eaves
1928 store of Hubert James Eaves
Map
Interactive map of Otakeho
Coordinates: 39°32′56″S 174°02′24″E / 39.549°S 174.040°E / -39.549; 174.040
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
Territorial authoritySouth Taranaki District
Ward
  • Taranaki Coastal General Ward
  • Eltham-Kaponga General Ward
  • Te Kūrae Māori Ward
Community
  • Taranaki Coastal Community
  • Eltham-Kaponga Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Taranaki District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of South TaranakiPhil Nixon3
 • Whanganui MPCarl Bates4
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer5
Area
1
 • Total
31.46 km2 (12.15 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)2
 • Total
177
 • Density5.63/km2 (14.6/sq mi)

Otakeho, meaning place of Takeho,6 is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand, west of the Otakeho Stream (rising on Mount Taranaki and reaching the Tasman Sea at Otakeho.7 It is on SH45.8

It has a hall (built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee),9 a boarded up store10 (taken over by H J Eaves in 1904,11 when it sold a wide variety of groceries, ironmongery, drapery, boots,12 farm, garden, sporting and household goods.1314 It burnt down in July 19271516 and was rebuilt about April 1928)17 a war memorial18 and a few houses.

3.8 km (2.4 mi) west of Otakeho19 is Ngāruahine's Tawhitinui Marae.20 A kohanga reo has been run at the marae since the 1980s.21

Otakeho has a small sandy beach, beyond Dingle Road,22 at the foot of 40 m (130 ft) high cliffs.23 It is used for fishing22 and has a poorly protected,24 nationally threatened, variety of Craspedia, Craspedia Otakeho.25

The Ōpunake to New Plymouth bus runs through Otakeho daily in each direction, except at weekends.26 A bus has run since 191527 and was preceded by Royal Mail coaches,2829 which changed horses there from 1881.30

History

Otakeho was, like Parihaka, a part of the Waimate Plains confiscated from Ngāti Ruanui under the Settlements Act 1863,31 so that precautions were taken during the survey of the main road in 1878.32 In 1880 there was a camp of No.1 Company of the Armed Constabulary at Otakeho, when the road was being built.3334 Later in the year the confiscated land was being sold,35 for £16 to £24 per acre.36 Otakeho may have been an area where ploughing protests occurred,37 though it stopped on request.38 A phone line to Manaia was built about 1883.39 Otakeho Bridge was swept away by a flood in 1893.40 Gravel was put on the mud roads around the period 189341 to 1913.42

Growth

Otakeho grew from the 1880s to the early decades of the twentieth century, becoming a much larger village than the current one, its first store, bakery and post and telegraph office being opened by Mr Blennerhasset in 1882 (his murder in a neighbours' dispute in 1901 briefly put Otakeho in the headlines).43444546 In 1883 a butcher and smithy opened, a school in 1884, a tinsmith's and in 1896 a public hall. A debating society was formed in 1891.47 The 1894 school48 closed in 2003,18 though the buildings remain.49 An 1893 Category 2 listed church was designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere,50 was extended with a vestry in 1954,51 closed in 2015, deconsecrated in 2017,52 sold in 201853 and moved to Pihama in 2021.50 The churchyard wasn't used as a burial ground.54 The village also had carriers,5556 a dairy factory,57 which occupied several buildings58 and three butchers.59

Hotel

Otakeho Hotel about 1890 source ↗

Tenders for the hotel were invited in 1881,60 building started in September 1881,61 and the 20-room62 Otakeho Hotel opened in January 1882.63 It was rebuilt64 after a 1907 fire65 and burnt down again66 in January 1980.67

Dairy

In 1888 Newton King together with R. Cook and J.C. George founded the Crown Dairy Company which started by taking over three unsuccessful co-operatives at Manaia, Otakeho and Opunake.5968

Demographics

Otakeho locality covers 31.46 km2 (12.15 sq mi).1 The locality is part of the larger Taungatara statistical area.69

The population was once almost double the current total, being 75 in 1906,70 314 in 192171 and 305 in 1951.72

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006219—    
2013189−2.08%
2018198+0.93%
2023177−2.22%
Source: 273

Otakeho had a population of 177 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 21 people (−10.6%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 12 people (−6.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 93 males and 84 females in 66 dwellings.74 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 36 (20.3%) aged 15 to 29, 84 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 18 (10.2%) aged 65 or older.2

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.1% European (Pākehā), 23.7% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 1.7% Asian, and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 5.1%, and other languages by 3.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.2

Religious affiliations were 28.8% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.6%, and 11.9% of people did not answer the census question.2

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (8.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 84 (60.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 (32.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 18 people (13.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 78 (56.5%) full-time, 30 (21.7%) part-time, and 6 (4.3%) unemployed.2

Notable people

  • Margaret Jane Briggs (17 April 1892 – 5 November 1961) a show‑ring rider born in Otakeho
  • Sir William Hudleston le Fleming, 9th Baronet (1861–1945) member of Waimate Road Board, then Waimate West County Council (1886-1923), dairy company director, hall committee chairman for 15 years and school committee for 12 years, a director of Kaupokonui Co-operative Dairy Co for 14 years, and a member of Otakeho Farmers' Union75
  • Frederick Arthur Lye (1881 – 3 October 1949) a Liberal and United MP (1922-35), who farmed at Otakeho from 1906 to 1918
  • William Sheridan (12 March 1858 – 16 November 1931) a Tasmanian Labour MP (1909-28), who ran a store at Otakeho, from 1900 until sold to his brother in law, H J Eaves in 1904
See also

See also

References

References

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External links