Oakura
Oakura
Coordinates: 39°7′3″S 173°57′16″E / 39.1175°S 173.95444°E / -39.1175; 173.95444
Country	New Zealand
Region	Taranaki
District	New Plymouth District
Population (2006)
• Total	1,359

Oakura is a small township in Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45, 15 kilometres south-west of New Plymouth. Okato is 12 km further south-west. The Oakura River flows past the town and into the North Taranaki Bight. To the south is the Kaitake Range, part of Egmont National Park.^[1][2]

The population of Oakura was 1,359 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 105 from 2001.^[3]

The Oakura Messenger (TOM) is a monthly publication delivered to all letterboxes in the area. It began in October 2000.^[4]

On 5 July 2007 the town was hit by a tornado, which damaged 60 houses.^[5]

Oakura is well known for its beach - Oakura Beach. One of only three beaches along the west coast of New Zealand which is north facing, in 2007 it became one of the first Blue Flag accredited beaches in Oceania. Only two others - Fitzroy and East End beach in nearby New Plymouth - received the same award that year. As of 2010, Oakura Beach has retained its blue flag status.^[6]

Amenities and Services[link]

South Road (better known as Surf Highway 45) is Oakura's main street and most local businesses and services are situated around here, including:

• Butlers Reef (public house)
• Four Square grocery store
• Oakura Fish Shop
• A locally owned and operated petrol station and vehicle servicing garage
• Oakura's Volunteer Fire Brigade, located on Dixon Street, services Oakura and surrounding areas. The one appliance service is also a back up for New Plymouth and Okato.

Features and Attractions[link]

Apart from its well known beach, Oakura's main attraction is Butlers Reef - a bar and music venue that has showcased many well known New Zealand and international acts, including Dave Dobbyn, Trinity Roots, Gin Wigmore, Katchafire, Supergroove and Jimmy Barnes.

Other places of interest include the township's three parks - Matekai, Corbett and the Shearer Reserve. Also, within five minutes drive south west is Lucy's Gully, a popular beauty spot in the Kaitake ranges that hit the national headlines in 2005 when the body of murdered German tourist Birgit Brauer was discovered there.^[7]

Koru Pā is a historic reserve situated 3 km south-east of Oakura township. Thought to be one of the first Māori settlements in Taranaki, Māori tradition recognises that it may have been built as early as 1000AD by Nga Mahanga a Tairi, a hapū of the Taranaki iwi.^[8]

Education[link]

Oakura School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 10 and a roll of 262.^[9] The school was founded in 1866.^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Oakura School website

Further reading[link]

General historical works[link]

• 110th jubilee of Oakura School and districts, 1866-1976. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Newspapers. 1976 

• 125th jubilee of Oakura School and districts, 1866-1991: souvenir booklet. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Original Print. 1991 

• New Plymouth Genealogical Group (1974). Cemetery and memorial transcriptions : Stratford, Omata, Oakura. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: New Plymouth Genealogical Group 

Clubs and organisations[link]

• Some of the records concerning the early days of the Oakura Library are held within "Puke Ariki". http://www.pukeariki.com/en/resources/collections.htm.  in New Plymouth. See "Oakura Library (B202)". http://www.nram.org.nz/record.php?id=6938&parent=searchresults&match=Phrase&format=Long&sort=title&words=Oakura. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 

• Lobb, Wade (2003). OBC website: a report of a project done for Oakura Boardriders Club (Bachelor of Applied Information Systems, Western Institute of Technology, New Plymouth) 

Environment[link]

• Franks, John A. (1980). Oakura Stream Catchment: water and land use. Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

Māori[link]

• New Zealand Native Land Court (1994). Important judgments delivered in the Compensation Court and Native Land Court 1866-1879. n.p.: Southern Reprints 

• This is a reprint of a title published in Auckland: under the direction of the Chief Judge, Native Land Court by H. Brett, 1879.

• Prickett, Nigel (1980). Maori fortifications of the Omata and Oakura Districts, Taranaki. Auckland, [N.Z.]: Auckland Institute & Museum 

New Zealand Wars[link]

• Great Britain War Office Topographical Depot (1864). Rough eye sketch of ground reconnoitred for position for guns on north bank of Oakura River in front of rebel position Kaitake Ranges, Province of Taranaki, New Zealand [cartographic material]: shewing route followed in reconnaissance : transmitted with D.Qr.Mr. General's report and journal, July 7th 1863. London, [U.K.]: Topographical Depot of the War Office 

• This is Plate 5 from Journals of the Deputy Quartermaster General in New Zealand, 1864. An electronic copy is available from the National Library of New Zealand.

Maps[link]

• New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey (1907). Town of Oakura, Wairau Survey Dist. [Scale = 1:4 752 (1/13.3 in. to the mile)]. Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey 

• New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey (1927). Town of Oakura, Wairau Survey Dist. [Scale = 1:4 752 (1/13.3 in. to the mile)]. Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Department of Lands & Survey 

People[link]

• The papers of Edward Leslie Hughes are held within "Puke Ariki". http://www.pukeariki.com/en/resources/collections.htm.  in New Plymouth. Within this collection is a manuscript concerning the history of Oakura. See "HUGHES, Edward Leslie (A400)". http://www.nram.org.nz/record.php?id=6281&parent=searchresults&match=Phrase&format=Long&sort=title&words=Oakura. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 

• Some of the papers of Stephenson Percy Smith are held within "Puke Ariki". http://www.pukeariki.com/en/resources/collections.htm.  in New Plymouth. Within this collection is a Taranaki Military Settlers' Land Order, allocating Smith land in the Oakura area. See "SMITH, Stephenson Percy, 1840-1922 (B896)". http://www.nram.org.nz/record.php?id=7046&parent=searchresults&match=Phrase&format=Long&sort=title&words=Oakura. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 

• The papers of Marc Frederic Voullaire are held within "Puke Ariki". http://www.pukeariki.com/en/resources/collections.htm.  in New Plymouth. Within this collection is material concerning the history of the Taranaki dairy industry, the location of the mission station of the Lutheran missionary, Johann Riemenschneider.. See "VOULLAIRE, Marc Frederic, 1885-1964 (B900)". http://www.nram.org.nz/record.php?id=7048&parent=searchresults&match=Phrase&format=Long&sort=title&words=Oakura. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 

• Ruhira Matekai (also known as Lucy Stevens) was a well-known Māori woman who lived in Oakura in the 19th century. Lucy's Gully and Matekai Park are named after her. See "Lucy's Gully". http://www.ngamamakugarden.co.nz/site.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-31. 

• Professional surfer Paige Hareb is from Oakura.

Schools[link]

• 110th jubilee of Oakura School and districts, 1866-1976. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Newspapers. 1976 

• 125th jubilee of Oakura School and districts, 1866-1991: souvenir booklet. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Original Print. 1991 

• Oakura, Koru and Kirihau Schools 80th jubilee thanksgiving service, Oakura Public Hall, Sunday 19th May [1957]. n.p.: n.p.. n.d. 

• Raill, Norman; Price, C.K.; Clegg, C.P. (1957). Oakura, Koru and Kirihau Schools combined jubilee, 1876-1956: jubilee celebrations, May 18th, 19th and 20th, 1957: eighty years of progress. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Avery Press 

Coordinates: 39°07′S 173°57′E / 39.117°S 173.95°E / -39.117; 173.95