Ōkato

The township is well serviced with a Four Squre store, cafés, early childhood facilities and a range of community services. Coastal Taranaki School provides education from Years 1–13, making Ōkato particularly well equipped for local families.

Sport and recreation play a big part in the community, with rugby grounds, bowling and squash clubs, tennis courts and a swimming pool. The nearby Stony River Walkway provides further opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and take in views of the mountain.

History: Ōkato is a town and rural service centre 26 km south-west of New Plymouth on State Highway 45. Ōkato is one of the three surviving northern taranaki military settlements established in the 1860s (along with Urenui and Lepperton).

The Stony River (Hangatahua), which arises in the Ahukawakawa Swamp in Taranaki Maunga (Mount Taranaki/Egmont) National Park, flows past the western side of Ōkato. Blue Rātā Reserve on the banks of the river is home to a unique variety of northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta) which begins its life as a true tree. Usually northern rātā starts out as an epiphyte in the canopy of a host tree which it eventually overshadows.

Ōkato was also notable as the home of Ōkato Cheese which was manufactured by the Ōkato Co-operative Dairy Company. This manufacturing site closed some years after merging with Egmont Co-operative Dairy.