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WAiTATi

Originally Waitete - a stream flowing into Blueskin Bay and now known as Waitati

Waitati is a mere 19km from urban Dunedin and is located on the southern edge of Blueskin Bay accessed from either Waitati-Waikouaiti Road (SH1), Blueskin Road from Port Chalmers or the old North Road/Mt Cargill Road from North East Valley.

 

Waitati is a busy, colourful & vibrant country community, centred around the ‘Village’ and stretching around to Opeke, Miches Crossing & Doctors Point eastward and includes Orokonui Valley & Waitati Valley which heads up towards the Silverpeaks.

 

Waitati holds a popular traditional style annual A&P Show at Bland Park, as well as an annual flower show, regular school fairs and the monthly ‘Blueskin Market’. Bland Park provides a great recreation ground incorporating a children’s playground, tennis courts and skate-bowl.


The Waitati Music Festival has also become a popular annual event held during summer on Bland Park and featuring a wide cross section of performers & artists. 


Blueskin Bay Library and Waitati Hall are situated on Harvey Street and regular events, talks, meetings and exhibitions are held at both locations.

 

Waitati is home to Blueskin Nurseries which is located on the corner of Harvey Street and includes a popular café, the historic St Brigid’s Church & wholesale nursery which exports NZ wide.

 

Waitati is also home to Blueskin General Store, Blueskin Gallery, The Merchant, Boutique Grocer and purveyor of the best ice-cream you are likely to experience; & Waitati DesigNZ which sells hand picked objet d'art & qwerky homewares.


At the base of Waitati Valley Road a new purpose  built equestrian centre has been developed which is already a popular destination for horse lovers.

 

Waitati features a river which flows through the centre of the village exiting at Blueskin Estuary following a path which has varied over time. Heavy rain creates an exhilarating rapid of water through the small river channel beneath the bridge along Harvey Street.

Location

 History

Te Papa | Burton Bros. Waitati, looking up Harvey Street from the Grant Homestead. C.017736

Early Māori settlements through the moa-hunter period have been identified and artefacts including adzes, stone blades and moa bones have been uncovered at Doctor's Point. 

The Waitete, previously Waiteitei and now Waitati river area was know to be a place of permanent residence for early Māori.

For generations, Orokonui Home (together with Seacliff Asylum) were the largest employers in the area, Orokonui closing in the 1980s and both sites now repurposed.

In more recent times Waitati has enjoyed an eclectic history through to modern day. Much has been written of the 'flower power' generation of the sixties and seventies and the attraction of Waitati for alternative life-stylers, hippies, artisans and bohemians who made their home at Blueskin Bay.

Waitati was also home to the infamous 'Waitati Militia' formed by late local identity Pete Smith and which reforms from time to time to battle with rival militia that are known to commute New Zealand wide in celebration of peaceful conflict (if that is possible).

Waitati was also the founding location of the seventies lifestyle magazine 'Mushroom' which celebrated alternative life-styling and now immortalised in cult history.

Today, Waitati maintains an 'eclectic' population, home to environmentalists, developers of alternative energies, the eco-conscious, artisans, heritage fruit growers, craftspeople and community minded folk. Waitati has a strong community of those seeking grass-root sustainable lifestyles.

Destinations

It is a long held belief by many that there is nothing to see here. It's a dead end, and truth be told that is exactly how locals like it.


"It's boring, you wont like it, there's nothing to do here". The reality is quite different, although we dont talk about that too loudly.

 

Waitati could be considered the 'gateway' to Blueskin Bay with destinations including Doctor's Point, Opeke, Mopanui ridgeline walks, Orokonui Eco-sanctuary, the Orokonui estuary walk and the Silverpeaks.


Waitati is home to an annual music festival, the 'Waitati Music Festival', held in Bland Park each summer. The festival is a not-to-be-missed experience with a massive line up of bands, musicians, poets, comedians, artists and passionate people who make the event a top-class aural extravaganza.


Waitati is also home to the annual 'Blueskin Bay A&P Show', a traditional country fair providing an opportunity for the local community to showcase all things agricultural and pastoral. A personal favourite, the Blueskin A&P Show is a true grassroots experience.


Blueskin Bay also provides a picturesque location for sporting activities including tramping, hiking, kayaking, fishing & boating.


That said and as legend tells it,  Waitati... there's nothing to be seen there.