Oratia

The Oratia area is located at the foothills of Waitākere Ranges, forming a large portion of the Oratia Stream catchment, which flows north north-east towards Henderson. Central Oratia forms a part of the Waitematā-Waitākere foothills ecological zone. Sheltered from the Tasman Sea by the Waitākere Ranges, the area was traditionally dominated by forests of kauri, Phyllocladus trichomanoides (tānekaha or celery pine) and rimu, with abundant nīkau palm and silver fern. The soils are a mix of Miocene Waitākere volcanic soil and Waitemata Group sedimentary rock.{{cite web |url=https://www.lucas-associates.co.nz/assets/Guidelines/Native-To-The-West.pdf |title=Native to the West: A Guide for Planting and Restoring the Nature of Waitakere City |publisher=Waitakere City Council |date= April 2005 |access-date=16 June 2022}} The north-eastern lowlands in Oratia forms a part of the Waitematā lowland forests ecological zone, which historically featured a broadleaf forest of pūriri, tōtara, karaka and tītoki. The areas adjacent to the Oratia Stream form an alluvial flood zone, preferred by tōtara, tītoki and west coast kōwhai.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Oratia (1951–1980 normals, extremes 1948–1979)

| Jan record high C = 29.5

| Feb record high C = 29.6

| Mar record high C = 27.8

| Apr record high C = 25.6

| May record high C = 23.6

| Jun record high C = 21.6

| Jul record high C = 18.8

| Aug record high C = 19.8

| Sep record high C = 22.2

| Oct record high C = 24.1

| Nov record high C = 26.3

| Dec record high C = 28.4

| year record high C = 29.6

| Jan avg record high C = 27.2

| Feb avg record high C = 27.3

| Mar avg record high C = 25.9

| Apr avg record high C = 23.4

| May avg record high C = 20.8

| Jun avg record high C = 18.5

| Jul avg record high C = 17.3

| Aug avg record high C = 18.0

| Sep avg record high C = 19.4

| Oct avg record high C = 21.4

| Nov avg record high C = 23.5

| Dec avg record high C = 25.5

| year avg record high C = 27.9

| Jan high C = 23.6

| Feb high C = 24.0

| Mar high C = 22.6

| Apr high C = 20.1

| May high C = 17.2

| Jun high C = 15.0

| Jul high C = 14.2

| Aug high C = 14.9

| Sep high C = 16.3

| Oct high C = 18.0

| Nov high C = 20.0

| Dec high C = 21.9

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 18.3

| Feb mean C = 18.8

| Mar mean C = 17.6

| Apr mean C = 15.3

| May mean C = 12.6

| Jun mean C = 10.6

| Jul mean C = 9.6

| Aug mean C = 10.3

| Sep mean C = 11.7

| Oct mean C = 13.4

| Nov mean C = 15.1

| Dec mean C = 16.9

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 13.0

| Feb low C = 13.5

| Mar low C = 12.6

| Apr low C = 10.4

| May low C = 8.0

| Jun low C = 6.1

| Jul low C = 4.9

| Aug low C = 5.7

| Sep low C = 7.0

| Oct low C = 8.8

| Nov low C = 10.1

| Dec low C = 11.8

| year low C =

| Jan avg record low C = 7.2

| Feb avg record low C = 7.7

| Mar avg record low C = 6.0

| Apr avg record low C = 3.6

| May avg record low C = 0.8

| Jun avg record low C = -1.4

| Jul avg record low C = -2.0

| Aug avg record low C = -1.2

| Sep avg record low C = 0.5

| Oct avg record low C = 2.4

| Nov avg record low C = 3.6

| Dec avg record low C = 5.8

| year avg record low C = -2.7

|Jan record low C = 3.8

|Feb record low C = 5.6

|Mar record low C = 1.5

|Apr record low C = 0.1

|May record low C = -2.1

|Jun record low C = -3.8

|Jul record low C = -4.1

|Aug record low C = -3.9

|Sep record low C = -2.1

|Oct record low C = -0.5

|Nov record low C = 1.6

|Dec record low C = 2.1

|year record low C = -4.1

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 88

|Feb rain mm = 107

|Mar rain mm = 107

|Apr rain mm = 131

|May rain mm = 160

|Jun rain mm = 180

|Jul rain mm = 171

|Aug rain mm = 162

|Sep rain mm = 127

|Oct rain mm = 120

|Nov rain mm = 116

|Dec rain mm = 109

|year rain mm =

|source = NIWA {{cite web

|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/

|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 1462)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 20 Jul 2024}}

}}

The area is within the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki, an iwi that traces their ancestry to some of the earliest inhabitants of the Auckland Region.{{Cite web| date=13 February 2014 | title = The Muddy Creeks Plan - a Local Area Plan for Parau, Laingholm, Woodlands Park and Waimā |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage-walks-places/docswaitakererangesheritagearea/waitakere-ranges-muddy-creeks-plan.pdf | publisher = Auckland Council| access-date = 28 June 2021}}{{Cite web| date=12 December 2013 | title = Deed of Settlement Schedule: Documents |url=https://www.tekawerau.iwi.nz/sites/default/files/TeKawerauaMakiiDOSDocuments.pdf | author1 = Te Kawerau ā Maki | author2 = The Trustees of Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust | author3 = The Crown | access-date = 26 April 2022}} The area is named after the Te Kawerau ā Maki pā and kāinga, which was located near modern-day Holden's Road. Carbon dating of shell middens on the western banks of the Oratia Stream near the pā showed evidence of occupation from at least 1570.{{Cite book| editor-first=James| editor-last=Northcote-Bade |title=West Auckland Remembers, Volume 1 |year=1990 |publisher=West Auckland Historical Society |isbn=0-473-00983-8 |chapter=Prehistoric Sites in West Auckland |first1=John T. |last1=Diamond |author-link1=J. T. Diamond |first2=Bruce W. |last2=Hayward |author-link2=Bruce Hayward |pages=39}} The name Oratia traditionally referred to the middle and lower catchment areas of the Oratia Stream, while the upper catchment was known as Waihorotiu, named for the landslips which would occur in the area.

A Te Kawerau ā Maki myth involving the naming of the location involves Hauāuru, the personification of the western wind, and his wife. His wife found a sunny spot in the lower Waitākere Ranges foothills, where her sunbathing was noticed by Tama-nui-te-rā, the personification of the sun. Hauāuru was angered by this, and took his wife back to the Waitākere Ranges. The name Oratia refers to the sunny location where Hauāuru's wife sunbathed.{{cite book |last1=Diamond |first1=John T. |author-link1=J. T. Diamond |last2=Hayward |first2=Bruce W. |author-link2=Bruce Hayward |title=The Māori history and legends of the Waitākere Ranges |publisher=The Lodestar Press |date=1979 |isbn=9781877431210 |page=32}}

In 1845, early settlers John Bishop and Thomas Canty began felling bush in Oratia.{{Cite book| editor-first=Pauline| editor-last=Vela |title=In Those Days: An Oral History of Glen Eden |year=1989 |publisher=Glen Eden Borough Council |isbn=0-473-00862-9 |chapter=Time Scale of Glen Eden's History |pages=90–91}} Oratia was first settled in the 1860s, with {{convert|40|acre|m2|adj=on}} land parcels granted to new immigrants. Cochrane's orchard was possibly the earliest orchard in the area dating back to this time, although it no longer exists. Sunnydale in Parker Road is the oldest surviving residence in West Auckland built around 1860 from Kauri timber milled on the site.{{cite book|title=West: The History of Waitaikere|isbn=978-1-86979-008-0|year=2009|page=441}} Oratia Cemetery has burial sites dating from 1867 onwards. The gateway entrance was built in 1935. Its Category II listing is attributed to historical and visual significance.

When the area was settled by Europeans, the name Sunnyvale was often used (however this eventually only referred to the Sunnyvale suburb to the north-east), and the Oratia Stream was given the name Cantys Creek.{{Cite web |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/34041 |title=Oratia |website=New Zealand Gazetteer |publisher=Land Information New Zealand|access-date=27 April 2022}}

Thomas Parr, a pioneer orchardist and nurseryman, bought a {{convert|35|acre|adj=on}} section between the Oratia and Waikumete streams in 1853. He established a plant nursery called Albion Vale on West Coast Road in 1879. Now a Category I Listed Building, the house has been restored to its original design after being used for many years as "The Town and Country Roadhouse", which was considered to be one of the finest restaurants in Auckland in the 1940s.{{cite book|title=West: The History of Waitaikere|isbn=978-1-86979-008-0|year=2009|page=442}} The small Oratia Folk Museum{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929005452/http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/artcul/hr/oratiamusm.asphttps://web.archive.org/web/20060929005452/http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/artcul/hr/oratiamusm.asp|title=Oratia Folk Museum|date=29 September 2006}} is adjacent to Albion Vale. It was originally a small settler cottage built around 1870. After a hailstorm in 1904 damaged large quantities of fruit, the Parr family opened one of the first fruit canneries in Auckland, called Atherton after Thomas Parr's wife, which shut in 1910.{{Cite book| editor-first=Pauline| editor-last=Vela |title=In Those Days: An Oral History of Glen Eden |year=1989 |publisher=Glen Eden Borough Council |isbn=0-473-00862-9 |chapter=Parr |pages=11}}

The Oratia Valley was settled by Dalmatian migrants in the late 1890s and early 1900s. They planted orchards and vineyards, leading to Oratia becoming known as the fruit bowl of Auckland. A strong sense of community developed which continues today, although some of the old families have moved out of the area. Many of Oratia's roads are named after the families who lived in Oratia in the 1800s, e.g. Parker, Carter, Shaw, Parr. Many of the original orchards have now disappeared. Although still relatively sparsely populated compared to most of metropolitan Auckland, Oratia has developed into a community with many businesses and homes.

From the 1930s until 2007, the Oratia valley was the home of Knock na Gree Camp, a Catholic youth camp.{{cite web |title=Entrance to Knock na Gree Camp. |at=JTD-13K-03419-1 | publisher=Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections |url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/46056/ |access-date=10 May 2022}}{{cite web |title=Welcome to KNOCK NA GREE | publisher=Auckland War Memorial Museum |url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collection/object/am_library-ephemera-603 |access-date=10 May 2022}} The camp was sold in 2008,{{cite web |title=Church sells bush retreat |first=Alanah |last=Eriksen | publisher=The New Zealand Herald |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/church-sells-bush-retreat/KUCG52DVWL5POZRLSUKTA2AT3M/ |date=15 March 2008 |access-date=10 May 2022}} The camp is now run as Bella Rakha, a Buddhist retreat.{{cite book |editor-last=Von Sturmer |editor-first=Richard |title=Auckland Zen Centre Tenth Anniversary: 2004-2014 |chapter=Where did we come from?: A prehistory of the Auckland Zen Centre | publisher=Auckland Zen Centre |pages=30–40 |isbn=978-0-473-27549-5 |year=2014}}

The Oratia statistical area, which includes Parau, covers {{Convert|17.19|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=6 January 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Oratia|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Oratia|y}}|R}}/17.19|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,839|2013|2,037|2018|2,151|2023|2,142|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Oratia (130000)|oratia|Oratia}}}}

Oratia had a population of 2,142 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (−0.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 105 people (5.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,083 males, 1,044 females and 12 people of other genders in 711 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.130000.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 5.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 363 people (16.9%) aged under 15 years, 369 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,086 (50.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 321 (15.0%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.8% European (Pākehā); 8.8% Māori; 5.2% Pasifika; 5.7% Asian; 2.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori language by 2.0%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 11.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 24.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 23.7% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.7%, and 6.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 603 (33.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 909 (51.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 261 (14.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $50,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 390 people (21.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 969 (54.5%) people were employed full-time, 303 (17.0%) were part-time, and 45 (2.5%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.130000.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Oratia (130000)}}

Despite its small size, Oratia has a number of amenities:

• Landsendt is a large sub-tropical garden considered to be of national significance.[http://www.landsendt.co.nz Landsendt][http://www.gardens.org.nz/advancedsearch/?id=65 New Zealand Gardens Trust] A range of rare plants are grown here, many originally sourced from South America, and now forming a rare plant "gene bank".
• Oratia Folk Museum is a specialist museum established in 1992.{{cite web |title=Oratia Folk Museum |url=https://theoratiafolkmuseum.org/ |publisher=New Zealand Museums}}{{cite web |title=Oratia Folk Museum on NZ Museums |url=https://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/collections/3339/oratia-folk-museum |website=nzmuseums.co.nz |publisher=Te Papa}}
• Oratia Native Plant Nursery is one of the earliest native plant nurseries in New Zealand.[http://www.oratianatives.co.nz Oratia Native Plant Nursery]

Hugh Redgrove, a plant breeder from Oratia, introduced a Hebe named "Oratia Beauty" in 1982.[http://www.hebesoc.org/hebes/hebes_o/hebe_oratia_beauty/hebe_oratia_beauty.htm Hebe Society]

Ann Endt,[http://www.rosarosam.com/articles/ann_chapman/ann_endt/ann_endt_bio.html Ann Endt] an Oratia gardener, had a rose named after her.[http://www.rosarosam.com/articles/ann_chapman/ann_endt/ann_endt_the_rose.html The Ann Endt Rose]

Geoff Davidson of Oratia Native Plant Nursery received the Life Time Achievement Award from the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network in 2007 for his work to save species from extinction and being part of major initiatives to protect plants.[http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/page.asp?nzpcn_awards_2007 The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network]

Graeme Gash of the folk rock band Waves was born and raised in Oratia.{{cite book |last1=Jahn-Werner |first1=Tara |chapter=The Children of Hauauru |pages=344 |editor-last1=Macdonald |editor-first1=Finlay |editor-link1=Finlay Macdonald (editor) |editor-last2=Kerr |editor-first2=Ruth |title=West: The History of Waitakere |publisher=Random House |date=2009 |isbn=9781869790080}}

Oratia District School, established in 1882,{{cite web|url=http://www.oratia.school.nz|title=About Us|publisher=Oratia District School|access-date=8 July 2020}} provides primary (years 1–6) education for the area. It has 24 classrooms, a learning centre, hall and lunch room. It has a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1404|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}{{TKI|1404|Oratia School}} It serves Oratia and a catchment area extending to the coast at Piha and Karekare. There is also a kindergarten located on the same site.

The Bruce McLaren Intermediate school in Henderson, named after the New Zealand racing driver, provides education for year 7 and 8 students.

The local state secondary school is Henderson High School.

Liston College and St Dominic's College in Henderson both offer Catholic education.

{{reflist}}

• [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/search/searchterm/Oratia/field/title/ Photographs of Oratia] held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.

{{Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area}}

Category:Populated places in the Auckland Region

Category:Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area

Category:Waitākere Ranges

Category:West Auckland, New Zealand