Okere Falls

Okere Falls is a small town located 21 km from Rotorua on SH 33 between Rotorua and Tauranga on the North Island of New Zealand. The town is situated on the shore of the Okere Inlet of Lake Rotoiti, from which the Kaituna River flows north towards the Bay of Plenty.

Okere Falls
Town
Kayaker at Okere Falls, with the remains of the powerhouse visible in the lower right
Coordinates: 38°01′00″S 176°21′00″E
Country New Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
Territorial authorityRotorua District
WardNorth
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total381

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of drifting" for Ōkere.[2]

Okere Falls is a popular spot for fishing & rafting and is known for its beautiful lakeside and waterfalls. There are commercial rafting companies and holiday park accommodation within the town. A seven-metre-high waterfall lays claim to being the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world.[3]

The community at Okere Falls is home to a shop, and a school at Wangamarino.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,935—    
20131,659−2.17%
20181,965+3.44%
Source: [5]

The statistical area of Rotoiti-Rotoehu, which at 404 square kilometres of land area is much larger than this town, had a population of 1,965 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 306 people (18.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 30 people (1.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 660 households. There were 999 males and 966 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 43.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 381 people (19.4%) aged under 15 years, 327 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 921 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 339 (17.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 57.1% European/Pākehā, 55.6% Māori, 3.5% Pacific peoples, 3.2% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 11.8%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 46.7% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 8.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 309 (19.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 264 (16.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 723 (45.6%) people were employed full-time, 237 (15.0%) were part-time, and 111 (7.0%) were unemployed.[5]

The population of Okere Falls itself was 381 in the 2018 census, an increase of 66 from 2013. There were 180 males and 201 females. 71.7% of people identified as European/Pākehā, 36.23% as Māori and 5.5% as Asian.[1]

History and culture

The area is the traditional homeland of the Ngāti Pikiao, who remain the guardians of the river through the Lake Rotoiti Scenic Reserves Board.[6] Their traditional name for the Kaituna River was Okere River. The river's alternative name, 'Kaituna', refers to its significance as a food source, in particular eels.

Before the first road bridge over the river was built in 1872, local Māori operated a ferry across the inlet. Travellers from Tauranga to Rotorua would typically break their journey with a night at the nearby Fraser's Hotel.[7]

The first 11 km stretch of the Kaituna River is still commonly referred to as Okere River, and is a site of significant Māori cultural and spiritual values. Okere River means "the place of drifting".

Marae

The area has three Ngāti Pikiao marae.

Pounamunui Marae and its Houmaitawhiti meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Hinekura. Tāheke Opatia Marae and Rangitihi meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Hinerangi.[8][9] In October 2020, the Government committed $4,525,104 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Pounamunui, Tāheke Opatia and eight other marae, creating an estimated 34 jobs.[10]

Te Takinga Marae and Te Takinga meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Te Takinga.[8][9] In October 2020, the Government committed $441,758 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating an estimated 51 jobs.[10]

Education

Whangamarino School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[11] with a roll of 161 as of March 2020.[12] The school offers classes in either English or Māori.[13]

Economy
Raft plunging over the seven metre Tutea Falls

The Okere Falls area has drawn visitors for well over 100 years, with the area being a popular day trip destination from Rotorua. By the late 19th century, trout fishing had become very popular, and for a while the hydro-electric power station was a tourist attraction in its own right.[7]

A well-formed bushwalk with scenic lookouts over Okere River and its spectacular waterfalls, the Okere Falls and the Tutea Falls, as well as the remains of the hydro-electric power station, can be found on Trout Pool Road.[3] There are car parks and toilets at both ends of the 30 minute walk, which starts at Okere Falls, passes Tutea Falls about halfway, and finishes at Trout Pool Falls.

At Tutea Falls, named after a local Māori chief, a lookout provides a good vantage point to see kayakers and rafts plunge over the seven-metre-tall waterfall. From the viewing platform, steps lead down to the river and Tutea's Caves. These steps were cut into the cliff face in 1907 as an attraction for early tourists, who would have their photo taken at the bottom of the steps.[14] The trout pool at the northern end of the track is a popular trout fishing spot.

The Okere Falls stretch of the Kaituna River is popular with whitewater rafters and kayakers and is classified as Grade 3/4 and tutea falls being a solid grade 4.

Okere is also home to the Okere Falls Power Station.

In the fifth season of the CBS television series The Amazing Race, Okere Falls were the site of one of two Detour options, 'Clean or Dirty', with teams that chose 'Clean' got the chance to go whitewater river sledging at the falls.

For the second series of Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie, Jack Osbourne tries whitewater kayaking at the falls as a part of the show's challenge before making his way to Japan.

References
  1. "Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  2. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  3. "Okere Falls Track". Department of Conservation NZ. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
  4. Whangamarino School
  5. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Rotoiti-Rotoehu (198700). 2018 Census place summary: Rotoiti-Rotoehu
  6. Information contained on "Whakatauki o Ngāti Pikiao" information panel at the entrance to the Okere Falls track.
  7. Information contained on "Footsteps of Tourism" information panel at the entrance to the Okere Falls track (DoC).
  8. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  9. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  10. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  11. Education Counts: Whangamarino School
  12. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  13. "Principal's Welcome". Whangamarino School. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  14. Information contained on "Descent to the Caves" information panel at Tutea Falls.

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