Ōkato
Ōkato | |
|---|---|
Hempton Hall in Ōkato in 1968 | |
| Coordinates: 39°12′S 173°53′E / 39.200°S 173.883°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki Region |
| Territorial authority | New Plymouth District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Kaitake Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | New Plymouth District Council |
| • Regional council | Taranaki Regional Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024) | |
• Total | 730 |
| • Density | 720/km2 (1,900/sq mi) |
Ōkato is a small town in rural Taranaki, New Zealand. It is situated about 25 minutes drive around the coast from New Plymouth on State Highway 45. Ōakura is 12 km to the north-east, and Warea is 9 km to the south-west. The place offers popular rocky surfing spots around coastal beaches. The town was established as a military settlement in the 1860s.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of Kato" for Ōkato. While "Kato" was probably a personal name, an alternative translation is "place of full tide/tsunami". In July 2020, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Ōkato by the New Zealand Geographic Board.
Ōkato has all the elements of a New Zealand rural community with sporting facilities (rugby grounds, bowling club, squash courts, tennis courts and swimming pool), Coastal Taranaki School, a police station, and a volunteer fire brigade.
Ōkato was also notable as the home of Okato Cheese which was manufactured by the Okato Co-operative Dairy Company. This manufacturing site closed some years after merging with Egmont Co-operative Dairy. Activities in the Ōkato area include the Stony River walkway, which has a number of locations for photographing Mt Taranaki.
The rural community of Puniho is located just south of Ōkato.