Orautoha

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

Orautoha 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

  1. ^ McDonald, Dani (26 December 2017). "New Zealand's best bach review: Uncle Bill's Cottage, Ohakune". Stuff.
  2. ^ Thornber, Lorna (20 October 2017). "Bach of the Year finalists revealed". Stuff.
  3. ^ Brook, Liz (4 December 2009). "Up the Orautoha". Fairfax New Zealand. Manawatu Standard.
  4. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  5. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  6. ^ Stowell, Laurel (31 August 2019). "New walkway built along Raetihi's Makotuku River". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Whanganui Chronicle.

39°19′48″S 175°13′59″E / 39.329932°S 175.233141°E / -39.329932; 175.233141