Kātiki is a small settlement in
North Otago, New Zealand. It lies between the townships of
Palmerston and
Hampden on
State Highway 1 at the northern end of
Kātiki Beach, close to the
Moeraki Peninsula. The tip of the peninsula, Kātiki Point, is the site of
Kātiki Point Lighthouse
The Kātiki Point Lighthouse, also known as Moeraki Lighthouse, shone for the first time in 1878, following several accidents on the dangerous reefs around the area, to make the area safer for ships that sailed past on their way to Port Chalmers ...
. The scenic reserve of
Trotter's Gorge is located just inland of Kātiki.
There is uncertainty about the origin of the name, though it could have originally been ''Ka tiki'' ("The carved figures"). The settlement was called ''Kartigi'' until 1927, this former name stressing the local
Southern Māori pronunciation. The town no longer has any signage but for a small bridge sign 'Katiki bridge'. Further north along the coast from the lighthouse are two small settlements called the Katiki Kaiks ("kaik" is the Southern Māori version of the term ''kainga'', meaning village). The houses at the kaiks are very basic and predominantly
cribs (holiday homes). Property is difficult to attain there as it cannot be purchased, only leased.
Kātiki lighthouse is home to
yellow-eyed penguins (''hoiho''), one of the rarest species of penguin in the world. Its visitors can almost be guaranteed to see
fur seals on their visit to the viewing huts. The area is also a local fishing spot, especially for
blue cod.
References
*Matheson, S (2018) ''Otago's Towns''. Wellington: Matheson.
*Reed, A. W. (1975) ''Place names of New Zealand''. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed.
*''Wise's New Zealand Guide'' (1969). Dunedin: H. Wise and Co. Ltd.
{{Waitaki District, New Zealand
Populated places in Otago