Otoko, New Zealand
Otoko is a small settlement west of Te Karaka in the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 2 runs through Otoko on its way from Ōpōtiki to Gisborne. In 2023 Otoko (meshblock 1352401) had a population of 57.[1]
History
Artist Peter Williams farmed in the area in the 1960s.[2]
The community was affected by flooding and frosts in August 2016.[3] It also briefly relied on a generator for power after a plane crash in December 2016.[4]
A man's body was found in Otoko in July 2019.[5]
Local roads were upgraded in 2020 with funding from the Provincial Growth Fund.[6]
Otoko railway station | |||||||||||
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Otoko station and viaduct | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Elevation | 195 m (640 ft) | ||||||||||
| Owned by | NZR | ||||||||||
| Distance | Gisborne 49.87 km (30.99 mi) | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1 April 1912 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 15 March 1959 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Railway
The Moutohora Branch had a temporary station from 1 August 1910, when the section from Waikohu opened,[7] though passengers and goods had been carried from 17 June 1910. PWD handed over the section to NZR on 29 January 1912 and it was opened on 1 April 1912[8] and officially opened by the Minister of Public Works, William MacDonald, on 6 April 1912, when it was described as an important link in the Gisborne-Auckland railway.[9] Initially there were two trains a day, taking 2½ hours from Gisborne and 2hrs 20mins to return.[10] Otoko remained the terminus until 1 November 1914 when the Otoko–Mātāwai section opened. By 1926 Otoko had a station building, platform, cart approach, 30 feet (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle and sheep yards, water, urinals and a passing loop for 50 wagons. In 1912 a house was provided for locomotive men, in 1913 another cottage and more in 1942 and 1946.[8]
The Moutohora Branch closed on 15 March 1959 and within a year part of the station yard had been used to straighten SH2.[8]
Otoko viaduct
On 21 February 1910 an £11,773 contract was signed with Griffiths & Co, Westport to build Otoko viaduct. A blacksmith's shop was built near the viaduct, with drilling, punching, and planing' machines to prepare the plates for positioning.[11] It was 112 m (367 ft) long and 30 m (98 ft) above the Waihuka River.[12] It was mostly demolished in 1960,[13] but some of the steelwork remains.[14]
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1910 Otoko temporary station
and F Class loco -
1912 Otoko Viaduct
and Matawai Road -
1912 Otoko viaduct
Parks
Otoko Walkway was a conservation reserve and walkway, owned and operated by the Department of Conservation.[15] It largely followed the old railway, but closed in 2024, due to lack of maintenance.[16]
References
- ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". datafinder.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Made name as equine artist". Gisborne Herald. 21 August 2018.
- ^ Miller, Corozan (10 August 2016). "Flooding as big wet sets in around Northland". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Livinsgton, Tommy (12 December 2016). "Gisborne prepares for night without power after plane crash downs power lines". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ "Police seek information after man's body found near Gisborne". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald. 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Thankful for road upgrade at Otoko". Gisborne Herald. 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Train to Otoko. Poverty Bay Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1 August 1910. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ a b c Scoble, Juliet. "Station Archive". Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
- ^ "Railway extension. Poverty Bay Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 April 1912. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Poverty Bay Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 April 1912. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Along the line. Poverty Bay Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 November 1910. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
- ^ "Viaduct Dismantled - Gisborne Photo News - No 68 : February 25, 1960". photonews.org.nz. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Gisborne - Motuhora Railway: Chris Korte's New Zealand Genealogy Project". cknzgp.net. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "DOC Places to Go – East Coast". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
- ^ "Otoko Walkway". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 February 2026.