Location

Coastal Taranaki School is situated in the little country town of Okato, some 15 minutes’ drive from New Plymouth south along Surf Highway 45.

Okato is nestled beneath the Kaitake and Pouakai Ranges, which tower beneath Maunga Taranaki (Mount Egmont). Okato is surrounded by farmland mainly used for dairying and is only a few minutes from a number of popular surf beaches.

The Okato district takes its name from an incident which occurred around 230 years ago, when a tidal force cyclone called Matakawaka swept down the Taranaki coast, leaving destruction to coastal pa, kainga, and crops and fishing fleets. The meaning of Okato is “the place of tidal flooding or wave” (‘o’ = the place of ‘kato’ = tidal flooding or wave).

The prevailing culture and mood of our school owes a great deal to its rural and farming perspective. We continue to hold rural events such as our calf and lamb day each year.