Okiwi

Okiwi is a small settlement and rural community at the head of the Whangapoua Estuary, in Whangapoua Bay, on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf.[1]

Facilities include Okiwi School, one of three schools on the island, all primary schools. Next to the school is Okiwi Park, with a public toilet, barbeque area, cycling trail and stream. The park has old tōtara and pūriri trees that were spared by farmers, alongside some new forest.[2] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a church building.[3] The Department of Conservation's base for Great Barrier Island was opened at Okiwi in 2016, replacing their office at Port Fitzroy, which was damaged by a cyclone on 10 June 2014 and cut off from the rest of the island for six weeks.[4]

The Okiwi Basin area is a basin of farmland that can be seen from Palmer's Track, a walking track that runs from Windy Canyon to Mount Hobson.[5] The fertile area is used for organic and small-scale growing,[6] including the Okiwi Passion market garden and shop.[7][8]

Okiwi Airfield, Whangapoua Beach and a camping ground are east of the settlement.[9][1]

History

Ngātiwai have traditionally lived in the area.[10]

Between 2015 and 2019, the Aotea / Great Barrier Island Local Board investigated establishing a cemetery at Okiwi or Claris, opting to establish it in Claris.[11]

References
  1. "Whangapoua Beach". greatbarrierisland.nz. Destination Great Barrier Island.
  2. "Okiwi Park". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council.
  3. "Great Barrier Island services". A Visitor Information Guide to Great Barrier Island. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. "New DOC base opened on Great Barrier". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  5. Palmisano, Kae Lani (12 August 2019). "What it's like to stay on the remote Great Barrier Island in New Zealand". USA Today.
  6. Smith, Catherine (18 March 2012). "Living it up on Great Barrier Island". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
  7. "Okiwi Passion". okiwipassion.co.nz. Okiwi Passion.
  8. Liptrot, Meg (5 January 2014). "Give back on a bach break". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Herald on Sunday.
  9. "Okiwi Airfield" (PDF). aip.net.nz.
  10. Brodie, James W. "Mariano Vella". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  11. "Local board proposes new cemetery for Great Barrier". Auckland Council. Our Auckland. 22 February 2019.

36.1560°S 175.3930°E / -36.1560; 175.3930

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