Otakeho

Otakeho
1928 store of Hubert James Eaves
Interactive map of Otakeho
Coordinates: 39°32′56″S 174°02′24″E / 39.549°S 174.040°E / -39.549; 174.040
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
Territorial authoritySouth Taranaki District
Ward
  • Taranaki Coastal General Ward
  • Eltham-Kaponga General Ward
  • Te Kūrae Māori Ward
Community
  • Taranaki Coastal Community
  • Eltham-Kaponga Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Taranaki District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of South TaranakiPhil Nixon
 • Whanganui MPCarl Bates
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
 • Total
31.46 km2 (12.15 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)
 • Total
177
 • Density5.63/km2 (14.6/sq mi)

Otakeho, meaning place of Takeho, is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand, west of the Otakeho Stream (rising on Mount Taranaki and reaching the Tasman Sea at Otakeho. It is on SH45.

It has a hall (built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee), a boarded up store (taken over by H J Eaves in 1904, when it sold a wide variety of groceries, ironmongery, drapery, boots, farm, garden, sporting and household goods. It burnt down in July 1927 and was rebuilt about April 1928) a war memorial and a few houses.

3.8 km (2.4 mi) west of Otakeho is Ngāruahine's Tawhitinui Marae. A kohanga reo has been run at the marae since the 1980s.

Otakeho has a small sandy beach, beyond Dingle Road, at the foot of 40 m (130 ft) high cliffs. It is used for fishing and has a poorly protected, nationally threatened, variety of Craspedia, Craspedia Otakeho.

The Ōpunake to New Plymouth bus runs through Otakeho daily in each direction, except at weekends. A bus has run since 1915 and was preceded by Royal Mail coaches, which changed horses there from 1881.