Oakura

Oakura
Oakura
Coordinates:
Country	New Zealand
Region	Taranaki
District	New Plymouth District
Population (2013)
• Total	1,380

Oakura is a small township in New Plymouth District, Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45, 15 kilometres south-west of New Plymouth. Okato is 12 km further south-west. The Oakura River flows past the town and into the North Taranaki Bight. To the south is the Kaitake Range, part of Egmont National Park.

The population of Oakura was 1,380 in the 2013 Census, an increase of 21 from 2006.

The Oakura Messenger (TOM) is a monthly publication delivered to all letterboxes in the area. It began in October 2000.

On 5 July 2007 the town was hit by a tornado, which damaged 60 houses.

Oakura is well known for its beach—Oakura Beach. One of only three beaches along the west coast of New Zealand which is north facing, in 2007 it became one of the first Blue Flag accredited beaches in Oceania. Only two others—Fitzroy and East End beach in nearby New Plymouth—received the same award that year. As of 2010, Oakura Beach has retained its blue flag status.

The Oakura River (and therefore Oakura township itself) was named after the female ancestor Akura-matapū of the Kurahaupō waka. Oakura-matapu was the original name of the river, and it literally means "Belonging to Akura-matapū". Akura was married to Okorotua. Ngāti Tairi hapū holds mana whenua in Oakura. Ngāti Tairi belongs to the larger descent group of Ngā Mahanga a Tairi. Ngāti Tairi and Ngā Māhanga a Tairi are a part of the tribe Taranaki. Ngāti Tairi retain their take ahi-kā (rights of ownership) through the marae Oakura Pā beside the southern side of the Oakura River. People have been living in the area of Oakura for hundreds of years.

When war broke out in 1860, Ngāti Tairi as part of Nga Mahanga and Taranaki joined in the offensives against the British. The nearby Tapuae ridge (north of Oakura) was a continual site of conflict. On 4 May 1863 a party of about 40 Māori warriors ambushed a small military party on a coastal road west of the town, killing nine of the 10 soldiers. The revenge attack on the military party, escorting a British defaulter to New Plymouth for trial, reignited hostilities in the Taranaki War. A

Amenities and Services

South Road (better known as Surf Highway 45) is Oakura's main street and most local businesses and services are situated around here, including:

• Butlers Reef (public house)
• Four Square grocery store
• Oakura Fish Shop
• A locally owned and operated petrol station and vehicle servicing garage
• Oakura's Volunteer Fire Brigade, located on Dixon Street, services Oakura and surrounding areas. The service has one appliance and one fire police vehicle. The appliance backs up New Plymouth and Okato Fire Brigades if needed.
• The New Plymouth Old Boys' Surf Life Saving Club is located on Tasman Parade along the beach side. The Club is apart of Surf Life Saving New Zealand and patrols the Oakura Beach during the summer and also competes at national surf competitions.

Features and Attractions

Apart from its well known beach, Oakura's main attraction is Butlers Reef - a bar and music venue that has showcased many well known New Zealand and international acts, including Dave Dobbyn, Trinity Roots, Gin Wigmore, Katchafire, Supergroove and Jimmy Barnes.

Other places of interest include the township's three parks - Matekai, Corbett and the Shearer Reserve. Also, within five minutes drive south west is Lucy's Gully, a popular beauty spot in the Kaitake ranges that hit the national headlines in 2005 when the body of murdered German tourist Birgit Brauer was discovered there.

Koru Pā is a historic reserve situated 3 km south-east of Oakura township. Thought to be one of the first Māori settlements in Taranaki, Māori tradition recognises that it may have been built as early as 1000AD by Nga Mahanga a Tairi, a hapū of the Taranaki iwi.

Ringcraft Moana is a manufacturing jewellery business with showroom, garden and a large pearl collection of abalone pearls. The Wavehaven, on Surf Highway 45 just south of Oakura, offers accommodation and access to surfing beaches.

Education

Oakura School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 10 and a roll of 262. The school was founded in 1866.

Notable residents

• Ruhira Matekai (also known as Lucy Stevens) was a well-known Māori woman who lived in Oakura in the 19th century. Lucy's Gully and Matekai Park are named after her.
• Professional surfer Paige Hareb is from Oakura.

Further reading

Clubs and organisations

• Some of the records concerning the early days of the Oakura Library are held within in New Plymouth. See

Māori

• This is a reprint of a title published in Auckland: under the direction of the Chief Judge, Native Land Court by H. Brett, 1879.

New Zealand Wars

• This is Plate 5 from Journals of the Deputy Quartermaster General in New Zealand, 1864. An electronic copy is available from the National Library of New Zealand.

People

• The papers of Edward Leslie Hughes are held within in New Plymouth. Within this collection is a manuscript concerning the history of Oakura. See

• Some of the papers of Stephenson Percy Smith are held within in New Plymouth. Within this collection is a Taranaki Military Settlers' Land Order, allocating Smith land in the Oakura area. See

• The papers of Marc Frederic Voullaire are held within in New Plymouth. Within this collection is material concerning the history of the Taranaki dairy industry, the location of the mission station of the Lutheran missionary, Johann Riemenschneider.. See

External links

• Oakura School website