In 2018, stormwater laden with sediment flowed over the Otamarakau wetlands from two ponds constructed without sufficient planning approval. In January 2020, kiwifruit company Bay Gold was fined over the incident.[2]
A speed camera was installed on the highway through Otamarakau in 2018,[3] leading to $30,000 of fines in its first month of operation.[4]
Marae
Ōtamarākau Marae and its Waitahanui a Hei meeting house are a traditional meeting place for the people of Ngāti Mākino.[5][6] The modern waterfront wharekai designed by Aladina Harunani has accommodation and a full commercial kitchen. They host corporate meetings, Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings, Wananga, family reunions, noho marae, weddings, birthdays, camps, schools and more for local, national and international visitors.[7]
Education
Otamarakau School is a co-educational state primary school for year 1 to 8 students,[8][9] with a roll of 92 as of November 2024.[10]
The school's main annual fundraising event is a surf fishing competition.[11]
