Orautoha is a valley and rural community in the Ruapehu District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.
Bill McNie was the original settler of the valley. McNie built a house in the valley in 1924, using newspaper as wallpaper. It later became workers' accommodation and then shearers' housing after his death in 1961, before being renovated into a rural bach his grand-nephew.[1] The bach, on an active beef and sheep farm, was voted one of the best in the country in 2017.[2]
The area currently consists of several farms on rugged land, with residents having to face regular electrical outages.[3]
Education
editOrautoha School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[4] with a roll of 52 as of August 2024.[5]
In 2019, students from the school helped plant a new walkway along Makotuku River.[6]
References
edit- ^ McDonald, Dani (26 December 2017). "New Zealand's best bach review: Uncle Bill's Cottage, Ohakune". Stuff.
- ^ Thornber, Lorna (20 October 2017). "Bach of the Year finalists revealed". Stuff.
- ^ Brook, Liz (4 December 2009). "Up the Orautoha". Fairfax New Zealand. Manawatu Standard.
- ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ Stowell, Laurel (31 August 2019). "New walkway built along Raetihi's Makotuku River". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Whanganui Chronicle.