Ohakune
Minor urban area
Main street of Ohakune
Main street of Ohakune
Coordinates: 39°25′07″S 175°23′58″E / 39.41861°S 175.39944°E / -39.41861; 175.39944
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictRuapehu District
Ward
  • Ruapehu General Ward
  • Ruapehu Māori Ward
CommunityWaimarino-Waiouru Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityRuapehu District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total6.44 km2 (2.49 sq mi)
Elevation
582 m (1,909 ft)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total1,510
 • Density230/km2 (610/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
4625
Telephone06

Ohakune is a small town at the southern end of Tongariro National Park, close to the southwestern slopes of the active volcano Mount Ruapehu, in the North Island of New Zealand.

A rural service town known as New Zealand's Carrot Capital,[3] Ohakune is a popular base in winter for skiers using the ski fields (particularly Turoa) of Mount Ruapehu and in summer for trampers hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Toponymy

The Ngāti Rangi iwi say the Māori language name Ohakune comes from the phrase "he Ohakune ki te ao", which broadly means "an opening to a new world" and refers to the descent from Mount Ruapehu into the valley and swamps of the area. In 2019 the New Zealand Geographic Board changed the official name to Ōhakune, indicating that the first letter was a long vowel, but swiftly reverted to Ohakune without a macron when Ngāti Rangi objected.[4][5][6]

History and culture

Pre-European history

The lands to the south and west of Mount Ruapehu were historically inhabited by the Māori of the Ngāti Rangi iwi.[7]

Around the middle of the seventeenth century a marae at Rangataua, a small town about five kilometres south-east of Ohakune, was attacked and the inhabitants were driven from their homes by raiders from the Ngāti Raukawa, an iwi from farther east in Manawatū. Around 75 of the village's population were slain and the dozen or so survivors fled to Maungarongo and established a pā on the present site of the town of Ohakune.

European settlement

The Crown purchased 10,000 acres of Native land at Ohakune in 1879.[8]

In 1883, the first engineering reconnaissance commenced for the Marton—Te Awamutu section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway and a base was established upon the present site of Ohakune, and soon became a permanent camp for railway and road construction workers. Settlement of the town commenced in the early 1890s. Forty quarter-acre sections in the township were sold at auction in February 1983.[9] Prior to the completion of the railway to the town, all supplies had to be transported via cart from Hunterville, or from Whanganui via the Whanganui River steamer to Pipiriki and then by cart for the remaining distance.[10]

By March 1908 the railway line had reached Ohakune. The period of railway construction activities was followed quickly by intensive timber milling; as the forest was cleared, cattle and sheep were introduced and farming progressed. Ohakune was constituted a town district in August 1908 and in November 1911 attained borough status.[11]

Marae

Ohakune has two marae. Maungārongo Marae and Tikaraina Ringapoto or Ko Te Kingi o Te Maungārongo meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Rangi hapū of Ngāti Tui-o-Nuku. Ngā Mōkai Marae and Whakarongo meeting house are a meeting place of the Ngāti Rangi hapū of Ngāti Tongaiti.[12][13]

In October 2020, the Government committed $836,930 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade a cluster of 7 marae, including Maungārongo Marae, creating 95 jobs.[14]

Geography

Setting

Ohakune is located in the Ruapehu District and the Manawatū-Whanganui region, to the immediate south-west of the slopes of the Mount Ruapehu stratovolcano. The town is 25 kilometres (16 miles) west of Waiouru, 70 kilometres (43 miles) northeast of Whanganui, 287 kilometres (178 miles) north of Wellington and 292 kilometres (181 miles) south of Auckland, and is at an elevation of 582 metres (1,909 ft).[15]

Climate

Climate data for Ohakune, 595 m
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20.6
(69.1)		 21.0
(69.8)		 19.0
(66.2)		 15.9
(60.6)		 12.3
(54.1)		 9.9
(49.8)		 9.0
(48.2)		 10.1
(50.2)		 12.1
(53.8)		 14.5
(58.1)		 16.7
(62.1)		 18.7
(65.7)		 15.0
(59.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.3
(59.5)		 15.7
(60.3)		 14.0
(57.2)		 11.1
(52.0)		 8.2
(46.8)		 6.2
(43.2)		 5.1
(41.2)		 6.1
(43.0)		 8.0
(46.4)		 10.1
(50.2)		 11.9
(53.4)		 13.8
(56.8)		 10.5
(50.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2)		 10.4
(50.7)		 9.0
(48.2)		 6.4
(43.5)		 4.1
(39.4)		 2.4
(36.3)		 1.2
(34.2)		 2.1
(35.8)		 3.8
(38.8)		 5.6
(42.1)		 7.0
(44.6)		 8.9
(48.0)		 5.9
(42.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 101.0
(3.98)		 76.0
(2.99)		 92.0
(3.62)		 95.0
(3.74)		 125.0
(4.92)		 130.0
(5.12)		 135.0
(5.31)		 119.0
(4.69)		 129.0
(5.08)		 114.0
(4.49)		 109.0
(4.29)		 128.0
(5.04)		 1,353
(53.27)
Source 1: Climate-data.org[16]
Source 2: weatherbase.com[17]

Demographics

Ohakune covers 6.44 km2 (2.49 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,510 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 234 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,095—    
2013984−1.52%
20181,182+3.73%
Source: [18]

Ohakune had a population of 1,182 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 198 people (20.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 87 people (7.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 450 households, comprising 621 males and 561 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 36.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 225 people (19.0%) aged under 15 years, 246 (20.8%) aged 15 to 29, 555 (47.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 150 (12.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.8% European/Pākehā, 34.8% Māori, 2.3% Pacific peoples, 7.9% Asian, and 3.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.6% had no religion, 29.2% were Christian, 4.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 2.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 168 (17.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (16.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 141 people (14.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 528 (55.2%) people were employed full-time, 144 (15.0%) were part-time, and 39 (4.1%) were unemployed.[18]

Economy

In the year to March 2021, the GDP of Ohakune was $74m, representing approximately 10% of the GDP for the Ruapehu District as a whole. The economy of the town is largely based on services. The largest categories of GDP were retail trade (15.8%), arts and recreation services (14%), accommodation and food services (10.9%) and owner-occupied property operation (9.1%).[19] In the same period there were 781 filled jobs, with 22.5% of these in retail trade, 19.9% in accommodation and food services, and 14.3% in arts and recreation services.[20]

Facilities

Ohakune has facilities for snow sports, trout fishing, mountain biking, tramping and bushwalking.[21]

Landmarks

Ohakune's "Big Carrot"

On the eastern edge of the town there is a large replica of a carrot, known as "The Big Carrot". This is reputedly the world's largest model carrot, and was originally constructed as a prop for a television advertisement for the ANZ Bank in the early 1980s. After filming was complete, the carrot was donated to the town in recognition of the area's reputation as the source of a high proportion of New Zealand's carrots, and installed in its current position in 1984.[22]

In the 1980s and '90s Ohakune was home to the Weather Rock, a local landmark in Thames Street popular with tourists for photographs; the rock used to "forecast" current weather conditions with a sign listing sayings such as "If rock is hot – sunny", "If rock is wet – raining", etc., and appropriately for the region, "If rock is bouncing – earthquake". The site is currently vacant.

The world's first commercial bungee jumping site was established just outside Ohakune at the old railway viaduct. This was operated during the 1980s until the bridge became too unsafe to continue operations. This bridge is now restored and a highlight of the 'Old Coach Road' walk/bikeway.[23][24]

Ohakune railway station has the second highest elevation of any operating railway station in New Zealand behind National Park Railway Station; a sign on the platform side of the station building lists its height at 2,029 feet (618.4 metres) above sea level.[25]

Health and welfare

In 2015 Ohakune had a dental clinic, pharmacy, fire station, police station, ambulance station, social welfare branch, churches, a marae with a district nurse, gymnasium, and a health shuttle for outpatient care at Whanganui Hospital 110 km away.

The nearest medical centre with GP, nurses and physiotherapist is 11 km to the west, at Raetihi.

Shopping and services

Ohakune has the usual range of shops and services found within a typical small New Zealand town.

Sporting clubs

Ohakune has a number of clubs and is home to the Ruapehu Rugby & Sports Club.

Media

Ohakune is covered by the Whanganui Chronicle, a daily paper part of the NZ Herald network. Ski FM Network operates out of Ohakune[26] hosted by 91.8 FM Ruapehu/Turoa, a Central North Island radio station. During the winter it operates as an "information desk" for information about the snow levels for the region.

Activities and events

Winter activities

Ohakune provides easy access to the nearby ski fields of Mount Ruapehu; the large commercials ski resorts of Turoa (the closest resort to Ohakune) and Whakapapa, and well as the small club field Tukino. Various outlets for clothing and ski hire, as well as purchasing lift tickets, are available in the town.

Summer activities

Ohakune caters for various summer activities, and provides access for trampers hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Mountain bikes are available for hire at various outlets in town.

Various water activities are available on the nearby rivers, with jet boating on the Whanganui River and rafting available along the Whanganui, Rangitikei and Tongariro rivers. Trout fishing is available in nearby lakes and rivers, including the world-famous Tongariro River. Activities can be booked at the Ruapehu i-SITE.

The Bridge to Nowhere in the Whanganui National Park located between Okakune and Whanganui is a popular destination for trampers and mountain bikers.

Events

In recent years the number of events hosted by Ohakune has increased, with both the Big Mountain Short Film Festival and Ohakune Mardi Gras[27] featuring on the calendar. The Mardi Gras is both a ski party and celebration of winter, and includes musicians, stalls and rides.

Education

Ohakune has three schools.

  • Ohakune School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school. It has 276 students as of April 2023.[28]
  • Ruapehu College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school. It has 230 students as of April 2023.[28]
  • Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngati Rangi is a state Kura Kaupapa Māori, offering a full primary (Year 1–8) education. It has 19 students as of April 2023.[28]

Transportation

Road

State Highway 49 runs through the town, where it is locally named Clyde Street.

Ohakune is on the Intercity coach network, with a non-daily service running north to Auckland via Taumarunui and south to Palmerston North via Whanganui.[29]

Rail

Ohakune is on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. The railway station is located off Thames Street in the Ohakune Junction area, approximately 2.5 kilometres from Clyde Street in the centre of town.

Passenger services are provided by the national operator KiwiRail under its Great Journeys New Zealand division. The Northern Explorer is a non-daily service operating between Auckland and Wellington.[30] The journey to/from Auckland crosses the famous Raurimu Spiral.

From 18 December 1917 until 1 January 1968, Ohakune was also the junction for the Raetihi Branch, a branch line railway to Raetihi. A truss bridge formerly used by this branch still stands near the Big Carrot. Seventeen kilometres to the east of the town is the Tangiwai Bridge, site of New Zealand's worst railway accident, the Tangiwai Disaster, on 24 December 1953.

A mock-romantic song from the mid-1960s called September in Ohakune was recorded by Peter Harcourt on an LP called Land of the Long White Shroud.[31]

Notable people

Notable people from, or significantly connected with, Ohakune include:

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ↑ "Ohakune Info". Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Berry, Greer (5 August 2019). "New Zealand Geographic Board retracts Ohakune macron after iwi complaint". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Iwi raises concern after Ohakune spelled wrong officially". Radio New Zealand. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Iwi corrects New Zealand Geographic Board". Scoop. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Directory of Iwi and Māori Organisations". Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Per Press Association". Wanganui Herald. 22 February 1879. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Crown Lands Sale – Townships of Makotuku (Raetihi) and Ohakune". Wanganui Herald. 10 February 1893. Retrieved 13 October 2022 – via Papers Past.
  10. ↑ "The routes from Wanganui to Taupo". Wanganui Chronicle. 17 April 1894. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  14. ↑ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "Elevation of Ohakune, New Zealand". Worldwide Elevation Finder. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Climate-data.org – Climate Data for Cities Worldwide". openstreetmap.org. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Weatherbase". CantyMedia. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ohakune (223100). 2018 Census place summary: Ohakune
  19. ↑ "Regional Economic Profile – Ohakune – Economy at a glance". Infometrics. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  20. ↑ "Regional Economic Profile – Ohakune – Employment at a glance". Infometrics. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  21. ↑ "Things to see and do in Ohakune". Visit Ohakune. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "Ohakune's Big Carrot turns twenty next month". Wanganui Chronicle. 21 September 2004. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  23. ↑ "Ohakune Old Coach Road". doc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  24. ↑ "Old Coach Road Walking Track – Visit Ruapehu". visitruapehu.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  25. ↑ Yonge, John (1985). New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (Third ed.). Quail Map Company. p. 8D. ISBN 090060932X.
  26. ↑ "Ski FM Network". Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  27. ↑ "Ohakune Mardi Gras". Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  28. 1 2 3 "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  29. ↑ "Intercity Ohakune Service Timetable". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  30. ↑ "Making Our Great Journeys Even Greater | The Great Journeys of New Zealand". The Great Journeys of New Zealand. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "Sounds Historical for Sunday 17 February 2008 Sounds Historical". RNZ. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.

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