Waiotahi

Waiotahe or Waiotahi is a beach, settlement and rural community in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, based at the Waiotahe River.

It includes a beach which attracts swimmers, surfers and anglers during the summer months, and river mouths that people fish from year-round. The beach is more dangerous during low tide due to stronger rips, but has natural hazards in all conditions.[1]

Opotiki District Council has banned vehicles from the mudflats of the Waiotahe estuary and a section of Waitoahe Beach.[2] The council allows vehicles at other beaches, unlike most other New Zealand councils.[3]

The town's official name reverted from Waiotahi back to the original Māori name Waiotahe in August 2015, following a decision by Land Information Minister Louise Upston, upheld by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[4]

History

In July 2013, a couple in their 60s were attacked and held captive Waiotahi home by a farmer soldier who had spent the previous night sleeping rough near the town hall.[5] The perpetrator fled the scene in their ute and was shot dead by police in Auckland.[6] The couple were hospitalised for injuries to their hands and reported being traumatised by their ordeal.[7]

The first case of Mycoplasma bovis in Bay of Plenty was recorded in a farm in Waiotahe in January 2020.[8]

Education

Waiotahe Valley School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[9] with a roll of 95 as of March 2020.[10]

Kayaker Lisa Carrington was raised in the valley and went to the local school, where both of her parents are teachers. She regularly visits the area.[11]

References
  1. "Waiotahi Beach". finabeach.co.nz. Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
  2. Staff reporter (26 December 2019). "Stick to the rules if driving on the beach". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  3. Hutt, Kendall (8 January 2020). "Explainer: Where can you drive your car on the beach?". stuff.co.nz.
  4. Gullier, Aimee (28 August 2015). "'Waiotahi' corrected to 'Waiotahe'". stuff.co.nz.
  5. Wall, Tony (14 July 2013). "Captive offered to help shootout victim". stuff.co.nz. Sunday Star Times.
  6. Kirk, Stacey (8 July 2013). "Police shoot ex-soldier dead after chase". stuff.co.nz.
  7. Kidd, Rob (9 July 2013). "Rampaging ex-soldier 'didn't kill himself'". stuff.co.nz. Nelson Mail.
  8. Staff reporter (24 January 2020). "First case of Mycoplasma bovis confirmed in the Bay of Plenty". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Rotorua Daily Post.
  9. "Waiotahe Valley School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  10. "Waiotahe Valley School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  11. Staff reporter (28 November 2019). "Lisa Carrington cherishing time in hometown ahead of massive year on the water". Television New Zealand. 1 News.

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