Okoroire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Okoroire is a small settlement in the South Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island,[1] centered around the Okoroire Hot Springs.[2]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of the duck" for Ōkoroire.[3]

The hot springs facility consists 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]

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.[7]

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.[8] It made staff cutbacks in 2018.[9]

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]

Education[]

Kuranui Primary School is a co-educational state primary school,[10][11] with a roll of 61 as of November 2021.[12][13]

Railway station[]

Okoroire was a flag station[14] near Rangipai School,[15] about 3 mi (4.8 km) west of the hotel,[16] on the Kinleith Branch, from 8 March 1886. It was 94 m (308 ft) above sea level.[17] 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.[18] The station closed to passengers on 31 July 1962,[19] to all traffic except stock from 18 August 1968 and to stock on Monday 1 June 1970.[18] Only a single track and a plantation remains.[20]

  Former adjoining stations  
Hinuera
Line open, station closed
7.32 km (4.55 mi) 		  Kinleith Branch   Tirau
Line open, station closed
3.7 km (2.3 mi)

References[]

  1. ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Okoroire, Waikato". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  2. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b Kirkeby, Luke (13 December 2017). "Historic South Waikato hot springs given spruce up". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  7. ^ Malone, Audrey (5 August 2016). "Chiefs allegedly exposed themselves to stripper". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  8. ^ Tarrant, Petrice (13 August 2014). "Okoroire hotel sells to Chinese company". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  9. ^ Kirkeby, Luke. "South Waikato rife with job redundancies". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  10. ^ "Kuranui Primary School Official School Website". kuranuischoolnz.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Kuranui Primary School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  12. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Kuranui Primary School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  14. ^ "Page 6 Advertisements Column 2". New Zealand Herald. 21 August 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Sheet N66 Matamata". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1978. Retrieved 31 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Okoroire". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  18. ^ a b "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  20. ^ "State Hwy 29". Google Maps. Retrieved 19 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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

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