à Âakura is a small township in New Plymouth District, Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45, 15 kilometres south-west of New Plymouth. à Âkato is 12 km further south-west. The Oakura River flows past the town and into the North Taranaki Bight. To the south is the Kaitake Range, part of Egmont National Park.
The Oakura Messenger (TOM) was a monthly publication delivered to all letterboxes in the area. It began in October 2000. It was renamed the à ÂÃÂkura Post in June 2020.
On 5 July 2007 the town was hit by a tornado, which damaged 60 houses.
à Âakura is well known for its beachâÂÂà Âakura Beach. In 2007 it became one of the first Blue Flag accredited beaches in Oceania. Only two othersâÂÂFitzroy and East End beach in nearby New PlymouthâÂÂreceived the same award that year. As of 2010, à Âakura Beach has retained its blue flag status.
Stats NZ describes à Âakura as a small urban area which covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>.
à Âakura had a population of 1,764 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 225 people (14.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 327 people (22.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 855 males, 906 females, and 6 people of other genders in 621 dwellings. 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 456 people (25.9%) aged under 15 years, 183 (10.4%) aged 15 to 29, 837 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 288 (16.3%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.0% European (PÃÂkehÃÂ); 12.6% MÃÂori; 1.7% Pasifika; 2.0% Asian; 1.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, MÃÂori by 4.3%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 9.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 24.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 28.4% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.2% MÃÂori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.5% Jewish, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.7%, and 8.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 492 (37.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 615 (47.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 198 (15.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $47,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 291 people (22.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 591 (45.2%) full-time, 300 (22.9%) part-time, and 24 (1.8%) unemployed.
The à Âakura River (and therefore à Âakura township itself) was named after the female ancestor Akura-matapà « of the Kurahaupà  waka. à Âakura-matapu was the original name of the river, and it literally means "Belonging to Akura-matapà «". Akura was married to Okorotua. NgÃÂti Tairi hapà « holds mana whenua in à Âakura. NgÃÂti Tairi belongs to the larger descent group of NgàMahanga a Tairi. NgÃÂti Tairi and NgàMÃÂhanga a Tairi are a part of the tribe Taranaki. NgÃÂti Tairi retain their take ahi kà(rights of ownership) through the marae à Âakura Pàbeside the southern side of the à Âakura River. People have been living in the area of à Âakura for hundreds of years.
When war broke out in 1860 during the First Taranaki War, NgÃÂti Tairi as part of Nga Mahanga and Taranaki joined in the offensives against the British. The nearby Tapuae ridge (north of à Âakura) was a continual site of conflict. In March and April 1863, Governor George Grey established redoubts around à Âakura just prior to the start of the Second Taranaki War, as locations where British troops could be stationed to keep European settlers in New Plymouth safe, and as a base to later retake Tataraimaka to the West. On 4 May 1863 a party of about 40 MÃÂori warriors ambushed a small military party on a coastal road west of the town, killing nine of the 10 soldiers. The revenge attack on the military party, escorting a British defaulter to New Plymouth for trial, reignited hostilities in the Second Taranaki War.
South Road (better known as Surf Highway 45) is à Âakura's main street, and most local businesses and services are situated around here.
Apart from its well-known beach, à Âakura's main attraction is Butlers Reef â a bar and music venue that has showcased many well-known New Zealand and international acts, including Dave Dobbyn, Trinity Roots, Gin Wigmore, Katchafire, Supergroove and Jimmy Barnes.
Other places of interest include the township's three parks â Matekai, Corbett and the Shearer Reserve. Also, within five minutes drive south west is Lucy's Gully, a popular beauty spot in the Kaitake ranges that hit the national headlines in 2005 when the body of murdered German tourist Birgit Brauer was discovered there.
Ringcraft Moana is a manufacturing jewellery business with showroom, garden and a large pearl collection of abalone pearls. The Wavehaven, on Surf Highway 45 just south of à Âakura, offers accommodation and access to surfing beaches.
Once a year, à Âakura's artists are opening up their studios to the public in a two weekend event. The à Âakura Arts Trail can be found online
The local à Âakura or Okorotua marae features the Moana Kaurai meeting house. It is a marae of the Taranaki MÃÂori hapà « of NgÃÂti Tairi.
Koru Pàis a historic reserve and pàsituated 3 km south-east of à Âakura township. Thought to be one of the first MÃÂori settlements in Taranaki, MÃÂori tradition recognises it may have been built as early as 1300AD by Nga Mahanga a Tairi, a hapà « of the Taranaki iwi.
Oakura School is a coeducational full primary (years 1âÂÂ8) school with a decile rating of 10 and a roll of students as of The school was founded in 1866.