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LŌCA represents the residents and home owners at the lakeside community of Lake Ōkāreka.
Lake Ōkāreka is one of the Rotorua Te Arawa lakes, located about 10-minute drive from Rotorua and is nestled between Lake Tikitapu, Rotokakahi, and Tarawera.
It is a small volcanic lake, about 340 hectares in area with a steep catchment of roughly 1,980 hectares, dominated by indigenous forest with areas of low‑intensity pastoral farming and a lakeside settlement on the southern shore. The lake drains via Waitangi Springs and an engineered outlet channel to Lake Tarawera, and is widely valued for its relatively clear water, wetlands, native forest backdrop and high recreational use. Ōkāreka, often translated as “the lake of sweet food”, reflects the long history of Te Arawa occupation and the cultivation of kūmara and other crops around the lake margins. Today, the lake and its surrounds remain an important place for Te Arawa, for permanent residents and for visitors who come to enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, camping and walking. Our conservation plan recognises these cultural, social and recreational values alongside the ecological values of the lake, wetlands and indigenous forest in the catchment. A strong community spirit is evident in the presence of a volunteer Fire Brigade, a Tennis Club with two AstroTurf courts, multiple conservation groups, a Community Hall available for hire (and home to the Ōkāreka Preschool), and the Ōkāreka Fishing Club, which hosts two annual competitions. Lake Ōkāreka also has a strong tradition of community involvement in conservation, with groups such as Landcare Ōkāreka and the Lake Ōkāreka Community Association working alongside Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council and the Department of Conservation. While historical conservation efforts have had a substantial positive impact on the Lake Ōkāreka catchment, these gains will only be maintained through ongoing management and intervention Our conservation plan builds on that history and aligns with the wider Rotorua Te Arawa lakes vision to preserve and protect lakes and their catchments for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations Membership to LŌCA is $30 per year. Lake Ōkāreka Community Association Incorporated Registration number: CC45051 NZBN number: 9429042657057 13 Steep Street, RD 5 Lake Ōkāreka, Rotorua 3076 [email protected] [email protected] |
Newsletters are distributed (at least three per year) free to local residents. Electronic copies and Email updates are also sent from time to time. Subscribe below.
Community HallCommunity Hall Bookings - Email
ActivitiesLocal LinksTe Arawa Lakes Programme
Rotorua District Council Bay of Plenty Regional Council Department of Conservation Rotorua Lakes Coast Guard Lake Ōkāreka Fire Brigade Lake Ōkāreka Preschool Lake Tarawera Ratepayer Association |
