Okoroire

{{Short description|Locality in New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | mapframe-coordinates = {{coord|-37.952|175.805}} | coordinates = {{coord|-37.952|175.805|region:NZ_type:city|display=it}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Waikato | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = South Waikato District | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Tīrau Ward | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = South Waikato District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Waikato Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of South Waikato | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|South Waikato District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = Waikato MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waikato MP|y}} | leader_title4 = Te Tai Hauāuru MP | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Hauāuru MP|y}} | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|Waikato|Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)}} | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 77.51 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2023"/> | population_as_of = 2023 census | population_total = 384 | population_density_km2 = auto }} '''Okoroire''' (Māori: ''Ōkoroire'') is a small settlement in the South Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island,<ref name="hariss">{{cite web |last1=Hariss |first1=Gavin |title=Okoroire, Waikato |url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz195/Okoroire/ |website=topomap.co.nz |publisher=NZ Topo Map}}</ref> centred around the Okoroire Hot Springs.<ref name="councilprofile">{{cite web |title=Okoroire |url=https://www.southwaikato.govt.nz/our-district/living-here/okoroire |website=southwaikato.govt.nz |publisher=South Waikato District Council}}</ref> The place name means 'place of the ''koroire'' / ''toroire'', an extinct species of ring-necked duck.<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>

The hot springs consist of three naturally heated geothermal pools dug in 1880, which were extensively redeveloped in 2017 and 2018.<ref name="provesright">{{cite news |last1=Kirkeby |first1=Luke |title=Redevelopment proves right for historic Waikato springs |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/106603330/redevelopment-proves-right-for-historic-waikato-springs |agency=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=29 August 2018}}</ref> The pools are surrounded by bush and ferns.<ref name="threebest">{{cite news |title=Three of the best... natural hot pools |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10824356 |agency=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=5 August 2012}}</ref> During the late 19th century the pools were used by the sick for treatment and by Māori women to cleanse after giving birth.<ref name="spruceup">{{cite news |last1=Kirkeby |first1=Luke |title=Historic South Waikato hot springs given spruce up |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/99752232/historic-south-waikato-hot-springs-given-spruce-up |agency=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=13 December 2017}}</ref>

Local attractions include whitewater rafting, bird-watching and fishing. Local walks include the Three Kauri Track, the Wairere Falls walk and Te Waihou walkway.<ref name="councilprofile" />

Okoroire Hotel, a historic country pub built in 1889 from ancient-timber, is located nearby near the banks of the Waihou River.<ref name="spruceup" /> It has been owned by the same family for three generations.<ref name="councilprofile" /> The hotel was sold to a Chinese business in 2014.<ref name="tarrantp">{{cite news |last1=Tarrant |first1=Petrice |title=Okoroire hotel sells to Chinese company |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/commercial-property/10378310/Okoroire-hotel-sells-to-Chinese-company |agency=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=13 August 2014}}</ref> It made staff cutbacks in 2018, and the next year was forced to sell by the Overseas Investment Office after promised redevelopment had not occurred . <ref name="rifewith">{{cite news |last1=Kirkeby |first1=Luke |title=South Waikato rife with job redundancies |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/108878414/south-waikato-rife-with-job-redundancies |agency=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff}}</ref><ref name="forcedtosell">{{cite news |last=Williams |first=David |title=Overseas Investment Offices forces foreign owners to sell New Zealand hotel |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/114869470/overseas-investment-office-forces-foreign-owners-to-sell-new-zealand-hotel|agency=Newsroom.co.nz |publisher=Stuff}}</ref>

In 2016, members of the Chiefs rugby team were accused of exposing themselves to a stripper during an end-of-season event at the hot springs.<ref name="malonea">{{cite news |last1=Malone |first1=Audrey |title=Chiefs allegedly exposed themselves to stripper |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/82852409/chiefs-allegedly-exposed-themselves-to-stripper |agency=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=5 August 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics== Okoroire locality covers {{Convert|77.51|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">.{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> It is part of the larger Tīrau statistical area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref> {{Historical populations|2006|375|2013|288|2018|372|2023|384|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7013054 and 7013056}}</ref>}} Okoroire had a population of 384 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (3.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 96 people (33.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 192 males and 189 females in 141 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7013054%2B7013056.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 3.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 87 people (22.7%) aged under 15 years, 57 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 183 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 63 (16.4%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.2% European (Pākehā); 16.4% Māori; 0.8% Asian; and 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori by 3.1%, and other languages by 4.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 13.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 25.0% Christian, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.8%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (15.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 186 (62.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 75 (25.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 42 people (14.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 186 (62.6%) full-time, 45 (15.2%) part-time, and 3 (1.0%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7013054%2B7013056.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=7013054 and 7013056}}</ref>

==Education== Kuranui Primary School is a co-educational state primary school,<ref name="official">{{cite web |title=Kuranui Primary School Official School Website |url=http://www.kuranuischoolnz.org |website=kuranuischoolnz.org |access-date=23 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829091913/http://www.kuranuischoolnz.org/ |archive-date=29 August 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="moe">{{cite web |title=Kuranui Primary School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=1858 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1858|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}<ref name="ero">{{cite web |title=Kuranui Primary School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1858 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=31 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131191228/https://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1858 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It opened in 1914 as Waiomou School, and changed its name to Okoroire School in 1922. A merger with Tapapa School in 2003 saw the combined school called Kuranui.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kuranui.school.nz/our-school-2/history/|title=History|publisher=Kuranui School|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

== Railway station == Okoroire was a flag station<ref>{{Cite news|date=1886-08-21|title=Page 6 Advertisements Column 2|pages=6|work=New Zealand Herald|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18860821.2.17.2|access-date=2018-05-31}}</ref> near Rangipai School,<ref>{{Cite web|date=1978|title=Sheet N66 Matamata|url=http://www.mapspast.org.nz/?zoom=13&x=1844892&y=5796061&layerid=NZMS1%201979|access-date=2018-05-31|website=www.mapspast.org.nz}}</ref> about {{Convert|3|mi|abbr=on}} west of the hotel,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Okoroire|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc02Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d3-d41.html|access-date=2021-04-19|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz}}</ref> on the Kinleith Branch, from 8 March 1886. It was {{Convert|94|m|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite book|title=New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas|publisher=Quail Map Co.|year=1965|edition=First|pages=3 & 4}}</ref> In 1890 it had no shelter shed, or siding, but by 1896 the station had a shelter shed, platform, cart approach and urinals. By 1911 it also had a {{Convert|30|ft|abbr=on}} by {{Convert|20|ft|abbr=on}} goods shed, sheep yards and a passing loop for 19 wagons. A caretaker was appointed in 1913 and a longer platform and an addition to the shelter shed were made in 1917.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Stations|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208074304/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|archive-date=8 February 2013|access-date=2020-08-10|website=NZR Rolling Stock Lists|language=en|url-status=dead}}</ref> The station closed to passengers on 31 July 1962,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Scoble|first=Juliet|date=2010|title=Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations|url=http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf|website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand|access-date=13 May 2018|archive-date=24 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135845/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Dates_and_names.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> to all traffic except stock from 18 August 1968 and to stock on Monday 1 June 1970.<ref name=":22" /> Only a single track and a plantation remains.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=State Hwy 29|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-37.9455797,175.7558081,3a,37.5y,353.67h,92.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUK60gaC7TK-3T_bb60TBHQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Google Maps|language=en}}</ref> {{s-start|noclear=yes}} {{s-note|text=Former adjoining stations}} {{Rail line|previous=Hinuera<br /><small>Line open, station closed<br>{{convert|7.32|km|abbr=on}}</small>|next=Tīrau<br /><small>Line open, station closed<br>{{convert|3.7|km|abbr=on}}</small>|route=Kinleith Branch|col={{BR(E) colour}}}} {{s-end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{South Waikato District}}

Category:South Waikato District Category:Populated places in Waikato