In order to appreciate the objectives and policies of the District Plan a familiarisation with the district is needed. The following gives an introduction to the natural and physical resources of the Opotiki district.
1.1.1 The Opotiki district covers an area of 3098 km². The district extends from Ohiwa Harbour in the West to Potaka, Cape Runaway, in the East. The district has approximately 160 km of coastline providing an abundance of opportunities for recreation and passive enjoyment. The land supports a number of activities, these are influenced by the land types of the district. The district's land types include coastal terraces, alluvial plains, rolling hill country, and rugged hill country.
1.1.2 The coastal areas, areas of high conservation value, and the rugged inland forests provide the district with outstanding natural values, and an immense wealth of biodiversity.
1.1.3 The alluvial plains and rolling pasture lands of the district are extensively used for agriculture and horticulture. Dairying, an activity on the increase, is located on the fertile river plains, with beef and sheep production on steeper hinterlands. Horticulture is another land use of the district. Kiwifruit contributes to the horticultural base of the district, with the production of other fruit and vegetables ever increasing.
1.1.4 The rugged hill area of the district is covered in forest, both indigenous and exotic. Exotic forestry covers
18 711 hectares of the district, this is approximately 6% of the total land area. In addition to the exotic forest the district has 75% of indigenous forest, much of this is located in rugged hinterland areas. These areas comprise a portion of the Urutawa Conservation Area, the Raukumara Conservation Park, and the Waioeka Scenic Reserve.
1.2.1 The soils of the district can be classified into six distinct groups:
1.2.2 The most productive and versatile soils are the older alluvial soils and those on flat to rolling terraces covered by rhyolitic tephra.
1.2.3 The landscape of the district is covered with thick rhyolitic tephra layers where the upper layers form the parent materials of some soils. The tephra is derived from a number of sources including the Mount Tarawera eruption, but more so from the Lake Taupo eruption where pumice deposition was widespread. Taupo pumice occurs on the terraces and hill country as a yellowish brown to pale yellow soil in the topsoils.
1.2.4 Whakatane tephra is a rhyolitic tephra of approximately one metre thick on flat to easy rolling terrace areas. Alluvium, derived from greywacke and tephra, is the parent soil material on some of the district's river flood plains - Waioeka River, Otara River, Waiotahi River, and the Waiaua River. During floods erosion sediments from these catchments are transported by the river and laid down on the floodplains.
1.2.5 Wind blown sands occur in a narrow area along the coast, further inland small amounts of dune sands occur in the upper strata of soils. Peat and peaty layers are located in broad valleys where stagnant waters created swamps.
1.3.1 Water is a plentiful resource within the Opotiki district. The district has a number of rivers - Waiotahi, Waioeka, Otara, Takaputahi, Waiaua, Torere, Hawai, Motu, Haparapara, Waikakariki, Kereu, Raukokore, and Whangaparaoa. There are also a large number of streams within the district that are valued. The Motu and Waioeka Rivers are valued for their pristine qualities and high scenic values. The Waiotahi and Waioeka Rivers are regionally important trout fisheries.
1.3.2 The Opotiki district has an annual average rainfall of 1390 mm per year. Falls range from an average of 85 mm in January to an average of 130 mm in July. Shallow bores tapping into water table aquifers provide some of the water used for residential, agricultural, and horticultural purposes.
1.4.1 The Opotiki district has approximately 160 km of coastline. The coast is of a high quality, with only localised incidence of residential development. The coast has a number of harbours, the most significant being the Ohiwa Harbour. There are a number of bays, estuaries, and wetland areas associated with the coast. Most of the district's coastline is characterised by sandy beaches or rocky outcrops.
1.4.2 The coast supports a number of important flora and fauna habitats, and a number of significant landscapes. Pohutukawa along the Opotiki coastline adds to the natural character of the coast, and to the character of the district. The coast provides many recreational activities and is used by residents and visitors to the district.
1.5.1 The Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) adopted by Council in 2004 sets the forward planning for the district. The demographic information in the LTCCP was based on information obtained from Statistics New Zealand in 2003, which estimated the population of the district to be 9530. The LTCCP projects a high population growth on the basis of new industries being attracted to the district.
1.5.2 Summary of demographic trends taken from the LTCCP:
1.6.1 The quality of the district's air resource is very high, resulting from small urban areas, a small number of people, and a limited number of industries within the district. The cleanliness of the air contributes to the environmental quality of the Opotiki district.
1.7.1 Within the district there are many areas of high ecological value. There has been some reduction in the quantity and quality of indigenous vegetation and habitats through historic and current land use activities. Biodiversity has been depleted, but there are landowners attempting to redress the reduction of biodiversity resources. On the flats and lowlands the main sources of biodiversity exist predominantly as isolated stands, many of these are unprotected and are vulnerable to grazing, and also to plant and animal pests.
1.7.2 The western boundary of the district bisects the Ohiwa Harbour. The harbour is an inter-tidal shallow estuary protected by two large, but fragile sandspits, the Ohope spit and the Ohiwa spit. The western boundary of the district bisects the Ohiwa Harbour. The harbour is an inter-tidal shallow estuary protected by two large, but fragile sandspits, the Ohope spit and the Ohiwa spit. Ohiwa Harbour is of international ecological significance, and also has high recreational and cultural values.
1.7.3 Within the district there is an abundance of bird species, including some endangered species. The freshwater bodies of the district are known habitats for indigenous fish species, the giant and short jawed kokopu, and also have important trout fishery habitats.
1.8.1 The Opotiki district has a rich cultural and historic heritage. There are many places of spiritual, cultural, traditional, and historic importance to the community throughout the district which arise from the strong Maori presence and more recent European settlement. Until the 1920s there were many small ports in the district with associated commercial operations.
1.8.2 The district has an identifiable heritage precinct along Church Street, between Elliot Street and Kelly Street. This area houses many buildings of heritage value to the Opotiki township, and the district.
1.9.1 The Iwi of the district have played a major role in the history of Opotiki. Presently Maori constitute 57% of the district's population. The Maori of the district are represented by three Iwi groups, comprising numerous hapu. The three iwi groups are Whakatohea, Ngaitai, and Te Whanau a Apanui.
Iwi continue to be active participants in the economic, social, and environmental spheres of the district.
1.10.1 The Opotiki township is the main urban area in the district. The township is situated at the confluence of the Waioeka and Otara Rivers, and is transected by State Highway 2 and State Highway 35. State Highway 2 follows the Waioeka Gorge through to Gisborne; State Highway 35, the Pacific Coast Highway, takes travellers around the East Coast and on to Gisborne.
1.10.2 Opotiki township has a strong community focus where the majority of the commercial, retail, health, and educational services for the district are situated. With the Opotiki District Council located in Opotiki it is also the administrative centre for the district.
1.10.3 Opotiki township is supported by Te Kaha which provides some services for coastal residents. In addition to Opotiki and Te Kaha the district has a number of small communities and settlements located along the coast and within the Waioeka Gorge, each of these providing a focus for their surrounding communities.
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