25-417: Ōpōtiki ( / ɔː p ɔː ˈ t ɪ k i / ; from Ōpōtiki-Mai-Tawhiti ) is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. It houses the headquarters of the Ōpōtiki District Council , the mayor of Ōpōtiki and comes under the Bay of Plenty Regional Council . On 22 October 2024, Ōpōtiki was the focus of a North Island -wide Police operation called "Operation Highwater" targeting
50-433: A mild frost at night. Winter snow falls along the crest of the ranges, and on the higher peaks (over 1000 m) may remain for a few weeks. Rain occurs at any season. Severe localised rainstorms ('cloudbursts') may occur in the high country and have caused flash flooding including past inundations of Ōpōtiki township. Ōpōtiki covers 8.59 km (3.32 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 5,180 as of June 2024, with
75-426: A nearly continuous stage of releasing volcanic gas at least since it was sighted by James Cook in 1769. Whakaari erupted continually from December 1975 until September 2000, marking the world's longest historic eruption episode, according to GeoNet , as well as in 2012, 2016, and 2019. The latter of these resulted in 22 deaths and 25 serious injuries, primarily of tourists from a nearby cruise ship who were exploring
100-435: A population density of 603 people per km. Before the 2023 census, the town had a larger boundary, covering 10.15 km (3.92 sq mi). Using that boundary, Ōpōtiki had a population of 4,806 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 735 people (18.1%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 363 people (8.2%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,539 households, comprising 2,337 males and 2,472 females, giving
125-504: A roll of 271; Ashbrook School, with a roll of 78; and Woodlands School, with a roll of 191. St Joseph's Catholic School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 171 as of August 2024. James Rolleston , an actor known for his role in Boy and Vodafone NZ advertisements, lives and was raised in Ōpōtiki. Bay of Plenty The Bay of Plenty ( Māori : Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi )
150-474: A sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 1,221 people (25.4%) aged under 15 years, 921 (19.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,920 (40.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 744 (15.5%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 46.7% European/ Pākehā , 67.9% Māori , 4.2% Pacific peoples , 3.7% Asian , and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.2, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer
175-571: Is a large bight along the northern coast of New Zealand 's North Island . It stretches 260 kilometres (160 mi) from the Coromandel Peninsula in the west to Cape Runaway in the east. Called Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi (the Ocean of Toitehuatahi) in the Māori language after Toi-te-huatahi , an early ancestor, the name 'Bay of Plenty' was bestowed by James Cook in 1769 when he noticed
200-603: The Mongrel Mob Barbarians MC gang's East Bay chapter in the town. Police arrested 28 people and seized about NZ$ 800,000 in assets. In response, Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi and local Māori leader Te Aho accused the Police of terrorising Māori families during the operation. Police Minister Mark Mitchell defended Police's conduct during the operation, rejecting accusations of racism and bias. The Police also countered that Operation Highwater had
225-559: The Mātaatua tribes. Early Māori settlement also gave rise to many of the town and city names used today. The first recorded European contact came when James Cook sailed through the Bay of Plenty in 1769. Cook noted the abundance of food supplies, in comparison to Poverty Bay further back along the eastern coast of the North Island. Further reports of European contact are scarce prior to
250-549: The 1950s, as kiwifruit did later. On 5 October 2011, the MV Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef in the bay causing a large oil spill , described as New Zealand's worst ever environmental disaster. A volcanic eruption occurred on Whakaari / White Island at 14:11 on 9 December 2019, which resulted in twenty fatalities and twenty-seven injuries, most suffering severe burns. Forty-seven people were reportedly on
275-719: The Tauranga iwi, including at the famous Battle of Gate Pā in 1864. Further conflict with the government arose in 1865 when German missionary Carl Völkner and interpreter James Fulloon were killed by local Māori at Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne, respectively. The ensuing conflict resulted in the confiscation of considerable land from several Bay of Plenty iwi by the government. Confiscation of Māori land deprived local iwi of economic resources (among other things), and also provided land for expanding European settlement. The government established fortified positions, including at Tauranga, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki. European settlers arrived throughout
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#1732783823047300-646: The abundant food supplies at several Māori villages there, in stark contrast to observations he had made earlier in Poverty Bay . The bay is defined by 259 kilometres (161 mi) of open coastline used for economic, recreational and cultural purposes. The coastline from Waihi Beach in the west to Opape is defined as sandy coast, while the coast from Opape to Cape Runaway is rocky shore. Sizeable harbours are located at Tauranga, Whakatāne and Ohiwa. Major estuaries include Maketu , Little Waihi, Whakatāne, Waiotahe and Waioeka / Ōtara . Eight major rivers empty into
325-553: The arrival of missionary Samuel Marsden to the Tauranga area in 1814. Bay whaling stations operated in the bay during the 19th century. During the 1820s and 1830s, northern iwi including Ngā Puhi invaded the Bay of Plenty during their campaign throughout the North Island, fighting local Māori tribes in what became known as the Musket Wars . However, the 1830s and 1840s saw increased contact between Bay of Plenty Māori and Europeans through trade, although few Europeans settled in
350-530: The bay from inland catchments, including the Wairoa , Kaituna , Tarawera , Rangitaiki , Whakatane , Waioeka , Motu and Raukokore rivers. The bay contains numerous islands, notably the active andesite stratovolcano Whakaari / White Island . Whakaari is New Zealand's most active cone volcano , and has been built up by continuous volcanic activity over the past 150,000 years. The nearest mainland towns are Whakatāne and Tauranga . The island has been in
375-477: The census's question about religious affiliation, 41.9% had no religion, 30.7% were Christian , 18.0% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.6% were Hindu , 0.3% were Muslim , 0.1% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 303 (8.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,029 (28.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 174 people (4.9%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
400-467: The construction of the Kawerau to Gisborne high-pressure pipeline. Today, First Gas owns and operates both the high-pressure pipeline and the local distribution network supplying the town. Ōpōtiki College is a co-educational state high school for Year 9 to 13 students, with a roll of 306 as of August 2024. Ōpōtiki has three co-educational primary schools for Year 1 to 8 students: Opotiki School, with
425-422: The descendent iwi maintain their traditional homelands ( rohe ) in the region, including Te Whānau-ā-Apanui , Te Whakatōhea , Ngāi Tai , Ngāi Tūhoe , Ngāti Awa , Ngāti Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Te Arawa , Ngāi Te Rangi , Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga . Māori named the bay Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi (the Ocean of Toitehuatahi), or Te Moana-a-Toi for short, after Toi-te-huatahi , an early ancestor of
450-405: The end of the century the population had started to dwindle. But after experimenting with different crops, settlers found success with dairy production. Dairy factories sprang up across the Bay of Plenty in the 1900s, with butter and cheese feeding economic prosperity throughout the early 20th century; local Māori continued to live on the fringe of this prosperity. Timber also became a major export in
475-399: The island at the time. Whakaari / White Island is roughly circular, about 2 km (1.2 mi) in diameter, and rises to a height of 321 m (1,053 ft) above sea level. It covers an area of approximately 325 ha (800 acres). The exposed island is only the peak of a much larger submarine volcano , which rises up to 1,600 m (5,249 ft) above the nearby seafloor. Sulphur
500-517: The latter half of the 19th century, establishing settlements in Katikati , Te Puke and the Rangitaiki area. In 1876, settlements were incorporated into counties following the nationwide dissolution of the provincial system. Initial settlements in the region struggled: the climate was ill-suited to sheep farming and the geography was inaccessible, further hindered by a lack of infrastructure. By
525-585: The region. Missionary activity in the region also increased during this time. In 1853, New Zealand was subdivided into provinces , with the Bay of Plenty incorporated into Auckland Province . Conflict returned to the Bay of Plenty during the 1860s with the New Zealand Wars . Initially this stemmed from Tauranga iwi supporting the Waikato iwi in their conflict with the government. In retaliation, British Crown and government-allied Māori forces attacked
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#1732783823047550-524: The south and east, State Highway 2 provides a direct inland route to Gisborne, while State Highway 35 follows the coast via Te Araroa . Coastal shipping used Opotiki Harbour until the mid-1960s. As of 2023, a project is underway to reconstruct the harbour, including the wharf and harbour entrance. Horizon Networks owns and operates the electricity distribution network in Ōpōtiki, with electricity fed from Transpower 's national grid at its Waiotahi substation. Natural gas arrived in Ōpōtiki in 1984, as part of
575-452: The support of local Māori leaders across Whakatōhea . The town of Ōpōtiki is situated exactly on latitude 38° South . The climate is temperate. Summer temperatures reach the mid-20s (Celsius, mid-70s Fahrenheit) on the coast and encourage a continuation of the beach culture of the Bay of Plenty . Winter days are often cloudless, the daytime temperature never drops below freezing but there may be
600-519: Was mined on the island until the 1930s. Ten miners were killed in 1914 when part of the crater wall collapsed. The Bay of Plenty has a temperate , maritime climate, with warm, humid summers and mild winters. According to local Māori traditions , the Bay of Plenty was the landing point of several migration canoes that brought Māori settlers to New Zealand. These include the Mātaatua , Nukutere , Tākitimu , Arawa and Tainui canoes. Many of
625-412: Was that 1,530 (42.7%) people were employed full-time, 480 (13.4%) were part-time, and 300 (8.4%) were unemployed. Ōpōtiki contains three marae: Opotiki Heritage and Agricultural Society runs a museum in Ōpōtiki. It opened in 2001. Ōpōtiki is situated at the northern junction of State Highway 2 and State Highway 35 . To the west, State Highway 2 connects Ōpotiki to Whakatāne, Rotorua and Tauranga. To
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