Life at Ōtaki Beach
Over many years, Ōtaki residents and visitors have made full use of the beach and the nearby river and streams.
These photos capture some of their activities: recreation, public festivals and displays, surf lifesaving, gathering kai and p...
Sport in Ōtaki through the years
From rugby to bowls, motorbike riding to marching, sports of all sorts have always been an important part of life in Ōtaki....
Music and Entertainment
Ōtaki has produced more than its fair share of great musicians and bands. There have been marae and church-based choirs, brass bands, jazz bands, rock 'n roll bands, and of course famous individuals such as Inia Te Wiata.
Over the years da...
Ōtaki Cottage Hospital
The Ōtaki Cottage Hospital (later the Ōtaki Maternity Hospital and then Ōtaki Community Health Centre) was opened in August 1899.
Cottage hospitals were small rural entities with up to 25 beds. Pressured by Ōtaki's Dr James Mason,...
Ōtaki Sanatorium
The Ōtaki Sanatorium was opened in 1907, providing care for tubuculosis (TB) patients. Featuring wide verandas and balconies and large opening windows front and back, they enable exposure to the open air.
The buildings were renovated in 1926-27, a...
Ōtaki Hotels
Since the late 1800s, Ōtaki has been well served with hotels - despite the growing alcohol prohibition movement between 1880 and 1919.
Some of these pubs still operate today, while others have disappeared from the landscape (see als...
Market Gardening
Long before pakeha arrived in Ōtaki and Te Horo, Maori had mahinga kai where they grew kumara and wild spinach.
After the arrival of the first pakeha settlers, Maori began growing introduced vegetables to trade with them. Early in the 1880s Chines...
Ōtaki Beach Motor Camp: 1948 - 2006
Collection commissioned by the Ōtaki Historical Society prior to closing of the Camp.
Photographer Alan Knowles...
