Orautoha

Orautoha is a valley and rural community in the Ruapehu District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

Bill McNie was the original settler of the valley. McNie built a house in the valley in 1924, using newspaper as wallpaper. It later became workers' accommodation and then shearers' housing after his death in 1961, before being renovated into a rural bach his grand-nephew.[1] The bach, on an active beef and sheep farm, was voted one of the best in the country in 2017.[2]

The area currently consists of several farms on rugged land, with residents having to face regular electrical outages.[3]

  1. ^ McDonald, Dani (26 December 2017). "New Zealand's best bach review: Uncle Bill's Cottage, Ohakune". Stuff.
  2. ^ Thornber, Lorna (20 October 2017). "Bach of the Year finalists revealed". Stuff.
  3. ^ Brook, Liz (4 December 2009). "Up the Orautoha". Fairfax New Zealand. Manawatu Standard.