Karitane#Karitane, Plunket and Truby King

File:Karitane port.JPG estuary at Karitane; fishing wharf and channel to the Pacific Ocean at right, Matanaka headland at left background.]]

The site of the present settlement of Karitane includes that of the pre-European Māori kaika, or undefended village. Giant moa were likely to be hunted in the area.{{cite web|author=Teviotdale D.|year=1932|title=The material culture of the Moa-hunters in Murihiku. – 2. EVIDENCE OF ZOOLOGY.|url=http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Volume_41_1932/Volume_41,_No._162/The_material_culture_of_the_Moa-hunters_in_Murihiku,_by_David_Teviotdale,_p_81-120/p1|journal=The Journal of the Polynesian Society|volume=41|issue=162|pages=81–120|accessdate=2015-02-03}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

It encompasses Huriawa on the adjacent peninsula, a pā or fortified village, recalled in oral tradition for sieges in the late 17th or early 18th centuries. It was also the site of the whaling station set up by Long, Wright and Richards in 1837. That was known as Waikouaiti, but the name later became transferred to the present township of that name established by Johnny Jones as a farming settlement in 1840, on the north side of the estuary.

In 1838, Jones acquired the Karitane whaling station, primarily targeting southern rights and humpbacks, resulting in severe depletion of local populations for these species. After sending pioneers to start his farming settlement he sent a Wesleyan missionary to join them in May 1840. Rev. James Watkin established the first mission station in the South Island.{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/watkin-james|title=Watkin, James|encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand|year=1966}} The first Christian service in the South Island took place in Karitane on 17 May, 1840. Watkin set up his mission station at Karitane. He was living there with his wife and children in a purpose-built house by late 1842. In 1867 George O'Brien painted a memorable view looking north from the Karitane waterfront, now in the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin.

{{Main|2021 East Otago lead poisoning scare}}

In early February 2021, high levels of lead (40 times the acceptable level of 0.01mg/L) were detected in Karitane and nearby Waikouaiti's drinking water. The high levels of lead were first detected on 18 December 2020 but the alert was emailed to a Dunedin City Council staff member who was on holiday.{{cite news |title=Water in two tiny NZ towns has toxic levels of lead. Locals weren't warned for a month because staffer was on holiday |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/water-in-two-tiny-nz-towns-has-toxic-levels-of-lead-locals-werent-warned-for-a-month-because-staffer-was-on-holiday/4JZAK6BKNJJGXLINNM2ZYCVK34/ |access-date=5 February 2021 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205074855/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/water-in-two-tiny-nz-towns-has-toxic-levels-of-lead-locals-werent-warned-for-a-month-because-staffer-was-on-holiday/4JZAK6BKNJJGXLINNM2ZYCVK34/ |archive-date=5 February 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Elder |first1=Vaughan |title=Lead in water found at 40 times acceptable level |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/residents-offered-blood-tests-lead |access-date=5 February 2021 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205080324/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/residents-offered-blood-tests-lead|archive-date=5 February 2021|url-status=live}} In response, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield offered free blood tests to Karitane and Waikouaiti residents. The Dunedin City Council also dispatched water tanks and staff to assist and reassure local residents. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the lead levels in Karitane and Waikouaiti as "unacceptable."{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title='Unacceptable' – PM on lead levels in East Otago |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/unacceptable-pm-lead-levels-east-otago |access-date=5 February 2021 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205080943/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/unacceptable-pm-lead-levels-east-otago|archive-date=5 February 2021|url-status=live}} On 9 February, the City Council distributed free fruits and vegetables to residents of Karitane, Waikouaiti, and Hawksbury due to concerns about eating crops irrigated with the contaminated water.{{cite news |title=Dunedin City Council providing free fruit and veg as lead water scare continues |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/435959/dunedin-city-council-providing-free-fruit-and-veg-as-lead-water-scare-continues |work=Radio New Zealand |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207043724/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/435959/dunedin-city-council-providing-free-fruit-and-veg-as-lead-water-scare-continues |archive-date=7 February 2021 |date=9 February 2021 |url-status=live}} On 11 February, the Dunedin City Council also confirmed that it would drain a raw water reservoir and replace 5 kilometres of old pipes in order to reassure local residents.{{cite news |last1=McNeilly |first1=Hamish |title=Reservoir to be drained and 5km of pipes replaced as council tackles lead scare |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/124208862/reservoir-to-be-drained-and-5km-of-pipes-replaced-as-council-tackles-lead-scare |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=Stuff |date=11 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212163623/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/124208862/reservoir-to-be-drained-and-5km-of-pipes-replaced-as-council-tackles-lead-scare |archive-date=12 February 2021|url-status=live}} By 10 March, the Southern District Health Board confirmed that 1,512 people had been tested, with blood test results indicating that nobody had a blood lead level requiring hospitalisation and that long term exposure to lead from the water supply was limited.{{cite news |title=Lead scare: Long-term health problems 'unlikely' |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/lead-scare-long-term-health-problems-unlikely |access-date=12 March 2021 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312004219/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/lead-scare-long-term-health-problems-unlikely |archive-date=12 March 2021}}

The name Karitane is often associated with pioneering paediatrician and psychiatrist Sir Truby King, founder of the Plunket Society. The name is echoed in many New Zealand child-related services and products:

• Plunket set up a string of neonatal care institutions known throughout the country as Karitane Hospitals, starting here in Truby King's house, KingscliffNigel Benson, "Seacliff asylum's painful and haunting history" Otago Daily Times, Dunedin 27 January 2007Jim Sullivan I was a Plunket baby 2007 Random House New Zealand
• A type of infant formula, Karicare, now made by Nutricia, as well as earlier brands Karilac and Kariol made by the Karitane Products Society are named after the town{{cite web |title=Nutricia Karicare |url=http://www.nutriciababy.co.nz/main/aboutus/karicare.html |website=nutriciababy.co.nz |publisher=Nutricia |access-date=17 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626225316/http://www.nutriciababy.co.nz/main/aboutus/karicare.html |archive-date=26 June 2007 |url-status=dead }}
• Karitane Nurse (historically) a type of nurse in New Zealand specialising in infant care
• Community Karitane, a type of community worker in New Zealand advising on parenting issues such as breastfeeding, nutrition, sleep and behaviour.{{cite web |title=Careers Karitene |url=http://www.careers.govt.nz/default.aspx?id0=103&id1=J80248 |website=careers.govt.nz |publisher=Career Services, New Zealand Government}}
• Karitane yellow, an informal name for a (baby-excrement-coloured) unpleasant shade of yellowA Dictionary of Maori words in New Zealand English, Oxford University Press, Melbourne 2005
• After 40 years absence in the market the [https://www.karilac.com/ Karilac] brand has relaunched with a new infant formula called [https://www.shegoa.com/ Shegoa] which is made from goat and sheep milk.

Truby King also worked at nearby Seacliff Lunatic Asylum.

Orpheus Beaumont, a woman from Karitane who entered and won the international Navy competition to invent the modern life jacket in 1918. [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/spectrum/audio/20151587/lifesaver Lifesaver] RNZ documentary

Karitane is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers {{Convert|1.29|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=26 December 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Karitane|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Karitane|y}}|R}}/1.29|0}} people per km². It is part of the much larger Bucklands Crossing statistical area.

{{Historical populations|2006|348|2013|363|2018|405|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Karitane|source=}}

Karitane had a population of 405 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (11.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (16.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 192 households, comprising 198 males and 207 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 66 people (16.3%) aged under 15 years, 42 (10.4%) aged 15 to 29, 195 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (25.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.6% European/Pākehā, 11.1% Māori, 0.7% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.3% had no religion, 28.1% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.5% were Buddhist and 0.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 90 (26.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 54 (15.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 72 people (21.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 153 (45.1%) people were employed full-time, 60 (17.7%) were part-time, and 3 (0.9%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7028218 and 7028219}}

The Bucklands Crossing statistical area, which also includes Warrington, covers {{Convert|421.96|km2||abbr=on}}. It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Bucklands Crossing|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Bucklands Crossing|y}}|R}}/421.96|1}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,230|2013|1,425|2018|1,482|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Bucklands Crossing|source=}}

Bucklands Crossing had a population of 1,482 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (4.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 252 people (20.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 675 households, comprising 753 males and 729 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 48.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 261 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 156 (10.5%) aged 15 to 29, 756 (51.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 309 (20.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.3% European/Pākehā, 11.7% Māori, 0.8% Pasifika, 1.2% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 61.1% had no religion, 26.5% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 1.2% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 354 (29.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 210 (17.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 225 people (18.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 570 (46.7%) people were employed full-time, 231 (18.9%) were part-time, and 30 (2.5%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Bucklands Crossing (349100)|bucklands-crossing|Bucklands Crossing}}

File:Coastal rock formations near Puketeraki, Otago ATLIB 294000.png]]

Huirapa Marae, also known as Puketeraki Marae, is located in Karitāne. It is a marae (meeting ground) of Ngāi Tahu, including the Kāti Huirapa Rūnanga Ki Puketeraki branch, and includes the Karitāne wharenui (meeting house).{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}

Close to the settlement is the site of Huriawa Pā, which was a major pā (fortification) in pre-European New Zealand. It was set in a strong position on a rocky promontory above the coast.

Karitane School is a co-educational state contributing primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,{{TKI|3756|Karitane School}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3756|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}} A school has existed at Karitane since at least 1892.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18920428.2.144?query=Karitane+School |newspaper=Otago Witness |title=Letters from Little Folks |date=28 April 1892}}

The Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora health centre opened in former Karitane School buildings in 2003 to provide health education, social services, sexual health services and mobile nursing, for Māori and the wider Karitane community, in association with the Huirapa Marae.Campbell, Bill "Maori centre opens", Otago Daily Times 29 October 2003

File:Karatane.jpg|Karitane Beach

File:Karitane Channel.JPG|Kayakers and a Hooker's sea lion resting in Karitane Harbor

File:View Of Karitane.JPG|View of the Karitane harbour and seaside on a dark and cloudy day

{{Commons category inline|Karitane}}

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Category:Localities in the Dunedin City territory

Category:Whaling stations in New Zealand