Okoroire (Māori: Ōkoroire) is a small settlement in the South Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island,[1] centred around the Okoroire Hot Springs.[2] The place name means 'place of the koroire / toroire, an extinct species of ring-necked duck.[3]

The hot springs consist of three naturally heated geothermal pools dug in 1880, which were extensively redeveloped in 2017 and 2018.[4] The pools are surrounded by bush and ferns.[5] During the late 19th century the pools were used by the sick for treatment and by Māori women to cleanse after giving birth.[6]

Local attractions include whitewater rafting, bird-watching and fishing. Local walks include the Three Kauri Track, the Wairere Falls walk and Te Waihou walkway.[2]

Okoroire Hotel, a historic country pub built in 1889 from ancient-timber, is located nearby near the banks of the Waihou River.[6] It has been owned by the same family for three generations.[2] The hotel was sold to a Chinese business in 2014.[7] It made staff cutbacks in 2018, and the next year was forced to sell by the Overseas Investment Office after promised redevelopment had not occurred . [8][9]

In 2016, members of the Chiefs rugby team were accused of exposing themselves to a stripper during an end-of-season event at the hot springs.[10]

Education

Kuranui Primary School is a co-educational state primary school,[11][12] with a roll of 52 as of April 2023.[13][14]

Railway station

Okoroire was a flag station[15] near Rangipai School,[16] about 3 mi (4.8 km) west of the hotel,[17] on the Kinleith Branch, from 8 March 1886. It was 94 m (308 ft) above sea level.[18] In 1890 it had no shelter shed, or siding, but by 1896 the station had a shelter shed, platform, cart approach and urinals. By 1911 it also had a 30 ft (9.1 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed, sheep yards and a passing loop for 19 wagons. A caretaker was appointed in 1913 and a longer platform and an addition to the shelter shed were made in 1917.[19] The station closed to passengers on 31 July 1962,[20] to all traffic except stock from 18 August 1968 and to stock on Monday 1 June 1970.[19] Only a single track and a plantation remains.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Hariss, Gavin. "Okoroire, Waikato". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  2. 1 2 3 "Okoroire". southwaikato.govt.nz. South Waikato District Council.
  3. ↑ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. ↑ Kirkeby, Luke (29 August 2018). "Redevelopment proves right for historic Waikato springs". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  5. ↑ "Three of the best... natural hot pools". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald. 5 August 2012.
  6. 1 2 Kirkeby, Luke (13 December 2017). "Historic South Waikato hot springs given spruce up". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  7. ↑ Tarrant, Petrice (13 August 2014). "Okoroire hotel sells to Chinese company". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  8. ↑ Kirkeby, Luke. "South Waikato rife with job redundancies". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  9. ↑ Williams, David. "Overseas Investment Offices forces foreign owners to sell New Zealand hotel". Stuff. Newsroom.co.nz.
  10. ↑ Malone, Audrey (5 August 2016). "Chiefs allegedly exposed themselves to stripper". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  11. ↑ "Kuranui Primary School Official School Website". kuranuischoolnz.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "Kuranui Primary School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "Kuranui Primary School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  15. ↑ "Page 6 Advertisements Column 2". New Zealand Herald. 21 August 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "Sheet N66 Matamata". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1978. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "Okoroire". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  18. ↑ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  19. 1 2 "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  20. ↑ Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  21. ↑ "State Hwy 29". Google Maps. Retrieved 19 April 2021.

37°57′07″S 175°48′19″E / 37.951886°S 175.805399°E / -37.951886; 175.805399

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