{{Short description|Volcanic crater lake in New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Ōkataina | other_name = Lake Okataina | native_name ={{native name|mi|Te Moana i kataina ā Te Rangitakaroro}} | image = LakeOkataina.jpg | caption = Aerial view from the south | alt = Aerial view from the south | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-point = none |pushpin_map=North Island | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Ōkataina | location = Bay of Plenty, North Island | coords = {{Coord|38|07|S|176|25|E|region:NZ_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = crater lake | inflow = Herupapaoa Stream, Pukahu Stream <ref name=White2016/>{{rp|50}} | outflow = ''subsurface'' | catchment = {{convert|59.8|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=White2016>{{cite web| title=Nitrogen discharge from the groundwater system to lakes and streams in the greater Lake Tarawera catchment GNS Science Consultancy Report 20151108| first1=P| last1=White| first2=M | last2=Toews| first3=C| last3=Tschritter| first4=A| last4=Lovett| url=https://www.boprc.govt.nz/media/670484/nitrogen-discharge-from-the-groundwater-system-to-lakes-and-streams-in-the-greater-lake-tarawera-catchment.pdf |access-date=26 August 2023| year=2016}}</ref>{{rp|56}} | basin_countries = New Zealand | length = {{convert|6.2|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="lowe" /> | width = {{convert|5.0|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="lowe" /> | area = {{convert|10.7|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|55}} | depth = {{convert|44.0|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="lowe" /> | max-depth = {{convert|78.5|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="lowe" /> | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|309.1|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|24}} | frozen = | islands = | cities = | reference = <ref name=White2016/>{{rp|55–6}}<ref name="lowe">{{Cite book| editor = Viner, A.B.|last1=Lowe |first1=D.J. |last2= Green |first2= J.D.| title = Inland waters of New Zealand| pages = 471–474| publisher = DSIR Science Information Publishing Centre| location = Wellington| year = 1987| isbn=0-477-06799-9}}</ref> }} '''Lake Ōkataina''' (also spelled '''Okataina'''; {{langx|mi|'''Te Moana i kataina ā Te Rangitakaroro'''}} or {{Lang|Mi|'''Ōkataina'''}}) is the northernmost and largest of four smaller lakes lying between Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. The others are Lake Rotokākahi (Green Lake), Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake), and Lake Ōkareka. All lie within the Ōkataina caldera, along its western edge.
==Geography== Unlike many other lakes in the region, Lake Ōkataina is completely encircled by native forest. Over the past 30 years, the level of the lake has risen and fallen in a range of about 5 metres. The mean autumn lake level is {{convert|309.1|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|24}}
The lake can be accessed by road via Hinehopu on the southern shores of Lake Rotoiti. At the end of the road there is a large sandy beach, a massive grassed area and the privately owned Okataina Lodge. Due to changes in the surface level of the lake, the lodge jetty has at times been either completely submerged or left high and dry.
On its south-western arm is a small island, Motuwhetero Island.
===Water Flow=== The lake is feed by multiple unnamed and often transient streams with a total catchment precipitation inflow average of {{convert|3841|L/s|abbr=on}}.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|56}} The only named streams that empty into the lake are the Herupapaoa Stream and Pukahu Streams.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|50}} The Te Rereoterangi Stream joins the permanent Herupapaoa Stream before it enters the lake.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|50}} The lake has no surface outflow and a outflow to Lake Tarawera of {{convert|399|L/s|abbr=on}} has been estimated.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|70}}
===Geology=== It is located in the Ōkataina Caldera and some of its south-eastern shore has discoloured hot water sources in the lake.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|50}} The western shore is underlaid by Mamaku ignimbrite from the Rotorua Caldera eruption of 240,000 years ago.<ref name="Bégué2014">{{cite journal|first1=F. |last1=Bégué|first2=C. D. |last2=Deering|first3=D. M. |last3=Gravley |first4=B. M. |last4=Kennedy |first5=I. |last5=Chambefort |first6=G. A. R. |last6=Gualda |first7=O. |last7=Bachmann |title=Extraction, Storage and Eruption of Multiple Isolated Magma Batches in the Paired Mamaku and Ohakuri Eruption, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand |journal=Journal of Petrology |volume=55 |issue=8 |year=2014 |pages=1653–1684 |doi=10.1093/petrology/egu038 |url=https://academic.oup.com/petrology/article/55/8/1653/1486635|doi-access=free |hdl=20.500.11850/88102 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> The rest of the lake catchment has rhyolite formations from Ōkataina eruptions.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|8}}
After the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera the lake level increased, to a maximum height about 1930 which dropped to present levels after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. The lake is now about {{convert|10|m|abbr=on}} above its pre 1886 level.<ref name=Law2008>{{cite book| last1=Law| first1=Garry| title=Archaeology of the Bay of Plenty| publisher=Science and Technical Publishing, Department of Conservation, New Zealand| year=2008| url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/sap246entire.pdf| access-date=10 September 2023| isbn=9780478144307}}</ref>{{rp|16}}
==Culture== The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of laughter" for ''Ōkataina''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names|title=1000 Māori place names|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=6 August 2019}}</ref> According to traditional accounts the name was given by the rangatira Te Rangitakaroro, who lived at Te Koutu, since he was once paralysed with laughter at a joke while sitting on a rock near the lake.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stafford |first1=Don |title= Te Arawa;: A history of the Arawa people |date=1967 |publisher=Reed |location=Wellington [N.Z.] |isbn= 9780947506100 | p = 83}}</ref> The lake and surrounds were occupied by the Ngāti Tarāwhai iwi.
Te Koutu Pā was located on the north-east shore of Lake Ōkataina.<ref name=TeKoutuPa>{{cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/37738854 | title=New Zealand National Library:Te Koutu Pā| access-date=10 September 2023}}</ref> The carved entrance gate, is to be found in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.<ref name=TeKoutuPaPicture>{{cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23012857?search%5Bi%5D%5Bplace_authority_id%5D=-339075&search%5Bpath%5D=items | title=New Zealand National Library:Merrett, Joseph Jenner, 1816?-1854 :[The Hobson album]. The Pah of Okataina on the Lake of [the same] name. Taken by Pomare from the Bay of Islands in the taua of Hungi 16 years ago. [1841?]| access-date=10 September 2023}}</ref>
Because of war raids before 1886,<ref name=TeKoutuPa/> and flooding after 1886, the previous sites of occupation on the lake shore were abandoned by the Māori Ngāti Tarāwhai inhabitants.<ref name=Law2008/>{{rp|pp=16, 27}} Both a drowned Pā and shrine has been found.<ref name=Law2008/>{{rp|pp=56}} A palisade post found under water near Motuwhetero Island confirms that the older low lake level had been present for at least about 100 years before the 1886 eruption.<ref name=Law2008/>{{rp|132}} Rock art in the form of a canoe in red ochre has been described.<ref name=Law2008/>{{rp|56}}
==Ecology==
The lake is surrounded by pristine virgin native forest and has good fishing for rainbow trout.<ref name=Fishing>{{cite web|access-date=2023-08-27 | url=https://nzfishing.com/eastern-rotorua/where-to-fish/lake-okataina/ | title=Lake Okataina |publisher=NZFishing.com}}</ref>
The area around the Okataina Lodge is heavily populated by tammar wallabies introduced from Australia in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/local/news/where-are-the-wallabies/3697126/ |title=Where are the wallabies? |work=Rotorua Daily Post |date= 20 August 2006 |first=Kristin |last= MacFarlane|accessdate=2010-09-07 }}</ref> It is known that these have impacted on the seedling layer of the forest, drastically reducing seedling density and diversity, and causing the disappearance of preferred food species. The local red deer prevent seedlings from maturing into saplings and the combined effect has been a profound depletion of the forest under storey.<ref name=pests>{{cite web| url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/conservation-publications/threats-and-impacts/animal-pests/impact-of-dama-wallaby-and-red-deer-in-lake-okataina-scenic-reserve/| title=Impact of dama wallaby and red deer in Lake Okataina Scenic Reserve|access-date=27 August 2023}}</ref>
Its trophic level index was 2.7 in 2014, being the lowest of the Ōkataina Caldera lakes.<ref name=White2016/>{{rp|5}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Okataina}} Lake Okataina Category:Okataina Volcanic Centre Category:Lakes of the Bay of Plenty Region Category:VEI-6 volcanoes Category:Volcanic crater lakes Category:Taupō Volcanic Zone