Otaihanga

The Waikanae River as viewed from its southern bank in Otaihanga. Across the river is the town of Waikanae Beach.

Otaihanga is a locality that forms part of the Kapiti Urban Area on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located just north of Paraparaumu on the south bank of the Waikanae River and is roughly 55 km north of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington. Its name means "the place made by the tide" in the Māori language.

Attractions

The entrance to Southward Car Museum from Otaihanga Road.

Located in Otaihanga is one of the Kapiti Coast's most significant tourist attractions, the Southward Car Museum. It has one of the largest collections of cars in the Southern Hemisphere and also contains other attractions such as heritage planes. A large theatre is located in the museum complex. It is situated on Otaihanga Road between the North Island Main Trunk Railway to the west and State Highway 1 to the east.

Economy

Agriculture used to take place, but has now largely ceased as residential developments have been built. Otaihanga has become primarily residential, and some small-scale commercial businesses operate. The Kapiti Coast's main rubbish tip is located in Otaihanga.

Education

No educational institutions are located in Otaihanga. However, a number of primary schools and a secondary school, Paraparaumu College, are located minutes away in Paraparaumu. One of the primary schools, Kenakena School, has been involved in works to improve Otaihanga's environment at Greendale Reserve.

Environment

The Makora Road entrance to the Otaihanga Domain.

As Otaihanga is on the banks of the Waikanae River, it can be susceptible to flooding during storms and periods of high rainfall. Serious flooding in the first week of January 2005 damaged 18 houses and necessitated the evacuation to higher ground of a number of residents by boat. After the flooding, the raising of three houses was prioritised and long term options such as upgrading flood stopbanks and extracting gravel from the riverbed were investigated.

The main parkland in Otaihanga is the Otaihanga Domain, on the bank of the Waikanae River. It is used for leisure activities and has no sporting facilities. It has family amenities and a footbridge across the river to Waikanae. Another parkland, Greendale Reserve, was formerly two rundown paddocks but it has been the subject of local volunteer efforts to revitalise its environment and restore native plants. These efforts began in 1997 and have involved the students of Kenakena School. In 2006, the volunteer work was honoured by a Conservation Week Merit Award, with the school receiving the 2006 Young Conservationist Award.

Transport

The North Island Main Trunk Railway, looking south from the Otaihanga Road level crossing. On the right is the location of a former halt; on the left is Southward Car Museum.

State Highway 1 runs through eastern Otaihanga. The intersection of the highway and Otaihanga Road is a notorious traffic black spot and in August 2006, Transit New Zealand lowered the speed limit of the highway in the area from 100 km/h to 80 km/h as an attempt to reduce accidents.

Otaihanga is located on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. The local portion of the railway was originally built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company as its Wellington - Manawatu Line. Construction was finished in Otaihanga; the two ends of the line met there and the final spike was driven in at a public ceremony by Governor William Jervois. The railway opened on 3 November 1886 and passed into the ownership of the New Zealand Railways Department on 8 December 1908. A halt for passengers was formerly located in Otaihanga but no longer exists and Paraparaumu Line commuter services currently terminate just south of Otaihanga.