Ōkiwi is a small settlement and rural community at the head of the Whangapoua Estuary, in Whangapoua Bay, on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf. Facilities include Okiwi School, one of three schools on the island, all primary schools. Next to the school is Okiwi Park, with a public toilet, barbeque area, cycling trail and stream. The park has old

tōtara ''Podocarpus totara'' (; from the Maori-language ; the spelling "totara" is also common in English) is a species of podocarp tree endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island and northeastern South Island in lowland, montane and ...

and

pūriri ''Vitex lucens'', or pūriri, is an evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand. History Pūriri was first collected (by Europeans) at Tolaga Bay by Banks and Solander during Cook's first visit in 1769. The plant was excellently described by Solan ...

trees that were spared by farmers, alongside some new forest. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a church building. The

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment ...

's base for Great Barrier Island was opened at Okiwi in 2016, replacing their office at Port Fitzroy, which was damaged by a cyclone on 10 June 2014 and cut off from the rest of the island for six weeks. The Okiwi Basin area is a basin of farmland that can be seen from Palmer's Track, a walking track that runs from

Windy Canyon Windy Canyon is a canyon and associated walking track on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. Located in the centre east of the island, the canyon is a wind funnel shaped from andesitic rock. The canyon is located on one of the highest stretches o ...

to Mount Hobson. The fertile area is used for organic and small-scale growing, including the Okiwi Passion market garden and shop.

Okiwi Airfield Okiwi Airfield , also called Okiwi Station Airfield, is a small airfield located near the village of Okiwi on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. It has a single bitumen runway, and a small terminal in the form of a wooden hut. The airfield is ow ...

Whangapoua Beach Whangapoua Beach is on the east coast of Great Barrier Island in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf. The beach runs roughly north–south and has views of Rakitu Island. The Whangapoua Creek drains large estuarine wetlands and enters the sea at the sout ...

and a camping ground are east of the settlement.

History

Ngātiwai have traditionally lived in the area. Between 2015 and 2019, the

Aotea / Great Barrier Island Local Board Great Barrier Island ( mi, Aotea) lies in the outer Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, north-east of central Auckland. With an area of it is the sixth-largest island of New Zealand and fourth-largest in the main chain. Its highest point, Mount Hobso ...

investigated establishing a cemetery at Ōkiwi or Claris, opting to establish it in Claris.

References

{{Hauraki Gulf Great Barrier Island Populated places in the Auckland Region