Otakiri
Otakiri | |
|---|---|
Rural community | |
| Coordinates: 37°59′08″S 176°45′53″E / 37.985475°S 176.764733°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Whakatāne District |
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Otakiri (Māori: Ōtākiri) is a rural community just outside Edgecumbe, in the Whakatāne District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of loosening or freeing from tapu" for Ōtākiri.
A dairy factory was established in the area in 1912.
The settlement was known as Tarawera until 1928.
In 2017, the Chinese company which owned rights to water from the Otakiri Springs sought planning and regulatory permission to expand its water bottling operation. Permission was granted in June 2018. Green Party cabinet minister Eugenie Sage's involvement in the decision led to a revolt within the party.
A local crowd-funded environment group appealed the decision in 2019, with support from local iwi Ngāti Awa.