Waitati

Waitati, East Otago

Waitati is a seaside settlement of about 500 people, situated 20km north of Dunedin. It sits on the southern edges of the tidal Blueskin Bay, at the end of the Northern Motorway. It has a primary school, library, café, nursery, general store and even its own film society.

Waitati is a community-minded and friendly village, with a reputation for attracting environmentally-aware individuals. 

The Orokonui Ecosanctuary sits on 300 hectares above Waitati. The area is protected by an 8.7km-long predator fence, keeping pests out and the sanctuary’s precious animals in. Within the fence grows New Zealand’s tallest tree – an 80m tall eucalyptus.

Waitati – a variation on its Maori name, Waitete – is named for the small river, which flows past the settlement and into the bay.

Photo credit: Allison Brown, www.flickr.com

Published: March 2017