Otamarakau

A modern wharekai overlooks the traditional wharenui at the Ōtamarākau marae.

Otamarakau (Māori: Ōtamarākau) is a beach and community in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, just south of Pukehina.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of young warriors" for Ōtamarākau.[1]

In 2018, stormwater laden with sediment flowed over the Otamarakau wetlands from two ponds constructed without sufficient planning approval. In January 2020, kiwifruit company Bay Gold was fined over the incident.[2]

A speed camera was installed on the highway through Otamarakau in 2018,[3] leading to $30,000 of fines in its first month of operation.[4]

  1. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Kiwifruit company Baygold convicted on environmental charges". Fresh Plaza. freshplaza.com. 23 January 2020.
  3. ^ Gardiner, Sam (9 February 2018). "Speed camera on the way for Pukehina". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  4. ^ Shand, Matt (27 September 2018). "Speed camera ticks up $30,000 of fines in first month of operation". stuff.co.nz.