Tataraimaka

Tataraimaka (Maori pronunciation, "Ta-ta-rai-ma-ka") is a rural coastal area in Taranaki, New Zealand. It is predominantly a dairy farming area, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-west of New Plymouth.

Tataraimaka hall

Tataraimaka is located south of Oakura and north of Ōkato. The Timaru River passes through Tataraimaka on its way from Mount Taranaki. The area lies close to the Kaitake ranges at the foot of mount Taranaki, and consists of steep farmlands which overlook rolling pastures, intercepted by many creeks and rivers leading to the rocky, west coast shoreline.

The area is well known for its beaches. Weld Road Beach is a popular surf beach with the locals. The area is becoming increasingly popular for people building lifestyle properties. There are many hiking tracks available to the public which traverse the Kaitake Range. One of these treks is the Boars Head Mine track, which takes hikers to a historical gold mine.[1]

Tataraimaka has a rich dairy farming history, with a historic dairy factory previously called the Timaru Creamery dating back to the nineteenth century.[2] In 2008, a local farmer re-opened the factory as the Patua Co-operative Dairy Factory to provide an alternative to the dairy giant Fonterra. Production of their organic Okato Cheese ceased due to financial difficulties in 2010.[3] The former dairy factory is currently used to showcase rock carvings.[4]

On 10 October 1998 the Timaru River flooded and tore through Surf Highway 45. The road wasn't re-opened until 19 October.

References
  1. "Kaitake Range: Egmont National Park" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Government of New Zealand. June 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  2. "Tataraimaka", in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts] (1908), retrieved from Victoria University of Wellington website, 4 November 2015.
  3. "Woodd, R., "Okato organic cheese dilemma", Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  4. Anthony, J., "Sculpture adorns old dairy factory", Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2015.

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