# Opoutere

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Place in Waikato, New Zealand

Opoutere Opoutere Coordinates: 37°6′39″S 175°52′23″E / 37.11083°S 175.87306°E / -37.11083; 175.87306 Country New Zealand Region Waikato District Thames-Coromandel District

**Opoutere** is a locality and beach on the eastern side of the [Coromandel Peninsula](/source/Coromandel_Peninsula) of New Zealand. It lies to the east of [State Highway 25](/source/State_Highway_25_(New_Zealand)), south of [Pauanui](/source/Pauanui) and north of [Whangamatā](/source/Whangamat%C4%81).[1] The Wharekawa Harbour lies to the south east.[2][3]

The name "Opoutere" means "place of floating posts".[4]

## History

The first known settlers of the area were the [Ngāti Hei](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Hei). They were supplanted by the [Ngāti Hako](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Hako) in the mid 17th century, who were replaced through conquest by Ngāti Hikairo. Marutuāhu granted Hikairo possession of lands won in conquest as part of the confederation, and so Hikairo from his Pa at Turuakange (Turua) extended his mana whenua in a straight line Pakirarahi, Wharekawa, Tairua, Pauanui, Opoutere [5]

In the 1870s and 1880s, gold prospectors staked claims on quartz outcrops around the Wharekewa Harbour, resulting in half a dozen major gold strikes, and several mines being established in the 1890s. [Kauri](/source/Agathis_australis) logging was underway in the 1890s too, and as it petered out, [gum-diggers](/source/Gum-digger) moved in. At the start of the 20th century, there was a settlement of about 50 people near the mouth of the harbour, with a store, a bakery and a post office. An Anglican church was built but was taken over by [Ringatū](/source/Ringat%C5%AB) worshippers. As the forest disappeared and the gum industry declined in the 1920s, the village also declined. By the late 1930s, the shops had closed, and the church had been abandoned. Farming and the planting of pines for the Tairua State Forest gradually healed the land.[6]

After [World War II](/source/World_War_II), a few families from [Auckland](/source/Auckland) and [Hamilton](/source/Hamilton%2C_New_Zealand) built [baches](/source/Bach_(New_Zealand)) beside the harbour, and in the 1950s a holiday store and a camping ground opened. Three small subdivisions were established in the late 1960s and 1970s, but the local community resisted further development during the 1980s.[7]

## Gallery

Southern end of Opoutere Beach

## Education

[Opoutere School](/source/Opoutere_School) is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8), with a [decile rating](/source/Socio-Economic_Decile) of 4 and a roll of 103.[8] A native school was first built in 1908, but the original school building later became a youth hostel.[9]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Opoutere Travel Guide"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110525065804/http://www.jasons.co.nz/opoutere). [Jasons Travel Media](/source/Jasons_Travel_Media). Archived from the original on 25 May 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). *Reed New Zealand Atlas*. Reed Books. map 17. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7900-0952-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7900-0952-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). *The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand*. Robbie Burton. map 45. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-877333-20-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-877333-20-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Michael King](/source/Michael_King_(historian)) (1993). *The Coromandel*. p. 130. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-908884-29-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-908884-29-X).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Haurāki Minute Book, Māori Land Court

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** King, pp. 129–130.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** King, pp. 131–144.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Te Kete Ipurangi - Opoutere School"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100155/http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1867). [Ministry of Education](/source/Ministry_of_Education_(New_Zealand)). Archived from [the original](http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1867) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** King, p. 70, 130.

## External links

- [Opoutere website](http://www.opoutere.co.nz)

- [Opoutere School website](https://web.archive.org/web/20070712135731/http://www.opoutere.school.nz/)

- [Around Opoutere](http://www.opouterebeach.co.nz/opoutere.html)

- [Timeless Opoutere](http://tour.thepeninsula.co.nz/opoutere.htm)

v t e Thames-Coromandel District, New Zealand Seat: Thames Populated places Coromandel-Colville Ward Cape Colville Colville Coromandel Kennedy Bay Manaia Motutakapu Mercury Bay Ward Cooks Beach Coroglen Hahei Hot Water Beach Kūaotunu Matarangi New Chums Beach Otama Beach Rings Beach Te Rerenga Whangapoua Whenuakite Whitianga Thames Ward Hikutaia Kauaeranga Valley Kopu Matatoki Ngarimu Bay Puriri Tapu Te Mata Te Puru Thames Thornton Bay Waiomu South West Ward Whangamatā C.B. Onemana Opoutere Whangamata Tairua-Pauanui C.B. Hikuai Pauanui Tairua Islands Aldermen Islands Castle Island Mahurangi Island / Goat Island Mercury Islands Motueka Island / Pigeon Island Motukawao Islands Poikeke Island Slipper Island Whanganui Island Geographic features Cape Colville Castle Rock Cathedral Cove / Te Whanganui-A-Hei Colville Channel Firth of Thames Hauraki Gulf Kauaeranga Valley Mercury Bay Moehau Range Thames Valley Whangapoua Harbour Facilities and attractions Coromandel Forest Park Driving Creek Railway Hauraki Rail Trail Kopu Bridge Pauanui Aerodrome Siamese Kauri Square Kauri Thames Aerodrome Thames railway station Thames School of Mines Whangamata Beach Hop Whitianga Aerodrome Whitianga Festival of Speed Government District Council Mayor Regional Council Organisations The Mercury Bay Informer Ngāti Rongoū Thames High School

[37°06′39″S 175°52′23″E / 37.11083°S 175.87306°E / -37.11083; 175.87306](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Opoutere&params=37_06_39_S_175_52_23_E_region:NZ_type:city)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Opoutere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opoutere) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opoutere?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.