Otaika 2.65

Otaika is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Whangarei is 7 km to the north. The Otaika Stream runs from the north west, through the area, and into the Whangarei Harbour. State Highway 1 runs through the locality. The hill Tikorangi (with a summit 161 m above sea level) lies to the South. Tikorangi is a source of limestone for Portland Cement.The population of the Otaika-Portland area was 993 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 18 from 2001.HistoryIn the 1830s, Okaika was a Māori village of Te Parawhau hapū. Tiakiriri was the chief. The first Pakeha settlers were Frederick and George Taylor, who were living at Otaika by 1856. More Pākehā settled further up the Okaika Valley around this time. George Edge's wandering geese were sometimes eaten by locals, leading to a nickname for the valley of "Kai-goose".EducationOtaika Valley School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 110.