Orini

Orini is a rural community in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located east of Taupiri

Orini is centred around a community hall which was opened in 1913, which was rebuilt in 1937 following a fire.^[1][2][3][4] It also has a school, which had 81 pupils in 1939.^[5][6]

A post office opened in 1907.^[7] A creamery was running in 1911.^[8][9] A cheese factory opened in 1915,^[10] and was still operating in 1932.^[11] The stream bridge between Orini and Whitikahu was built in 1938.^[12] By 1950 the Orini telephone exchange had 123 subscribers.^[13]

The Mangawara area to the west was a Kauri gum digging area until 1983. It also had a creamery and a post office by 1910.^[14][15]

Te Hoe, to the north, had a school between 1912 and 1995.^[16] It had a post office and store and still has a hall, which was built in 1957.^[1][14]

From the 1600s: Ngati Koura and Ngati Wairere Waikai occupied the area, mainly for eel fishing.^[17] An old waka was discovered in 1937.^[18]

After the invasion of the Waikato, the area was confiscated in 1863^[19] and cut up into lots for the military settlers, though deemed too swampy for occupation.^[20]

Flax was milled in the area from 1890 until a 1908 fire and again from 1918.^[17] A new Orini mill opened in 1936^[21] and flax was still being grown in 1938, when there was another fire.^[22] The drained peat has also caught fire from time to time.^[23][24]

Electricity came in 1928.^[25] A hall was built^[26] and a bus service to Hamilton, started in 1937^[27] and was still running in 1964^[28] and into the 1970s.^[29]

Orini had a school by 1912.^[30] It was replaced with Orini Combined School, formed from a merger of Orini, Te Hoe, Netherby and Mangawara schools.^[5]

It is now a co-educational state primary school,^[31][32] with a roll of 89 as of November 2024.^[33]

• Mangawara Stream water level

37°33′20″S 175°18′30″E / 37.55556°S 175.30833°E / -37.55556; 175.30833