Otaki Attractions
75km north of Wellington, on the South Taranaki Bight, is Otaki (pop. 6500). The Otaki area once had a relatively large Maori population and was controlled in the early 19th C. by Te Rauparaha from his base on nearby Kapiti Island. It is now the commercial center of a fertile vegetable-growing area.
The first Maori university, the University of Rauwaka, was founded in Otaki as the logical development of earlier Maori pre-school and school education projects.
The British missionary Octavius Hadfield (1814-1904), later bishop of Wellington, worked in Otaki from 1839 and taught the Maoris to cultivate the excellent local soil. He strove to maintain good relations between the settlers and the Maoris and was able to restrain Te Rauparaha from attacking Wellington. His uninhibited expression of his views on the Taranaki land war, however, made him unpopular with the government.
Otaki's main sight was the Rangiatea Maori church, which unfortunately was destroyed by fire several years ago. Only a sign remains to commemorate New Zealand's finest Maori church.
Nearby is the grave of Te Rauparaha; legend has it that his body was transported to Kapiti Island.
1km further on is a Roman Catholic mission station established in 1844. The church was built in 1857.
The first Maori university, the University of Rauwaka, was founded in Otaki as the logical development of earlier Maori pre-school and school education projects.
The British missionary Octavius Hadfield (1814-1904), later bishop of Wellington, worked in Otaki from 1839 and taught the Maoris to cultivate the excellent local soil. He strove to maintain good relations between the settlers and the Maoris and was able to restrain Te Rauparaha from attacking Wellington. His uninhibited expression of his views on the Taranaki land war, however, made him unpopular with the government.
Otaki's main sight was the Rangiatea Maori church, which unfortunately was destroyed by fire several years ago. Only a sign remains to commemorate New Zealand's finest Maori church.
Nearby is the grave of Te Rauparaha; legend has it that his body was transported to Kapiti Island.
1km further on is a Roman Catholic mission station established in 1844. The church was built in 1857.
