Ōkiwi 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 Ōkiwi or Claris, opting to establish it in Claris.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "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°09′22″S 175°23′35″E / 36.1560°S 175.3930°E / -36.1560; 175.3930

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