Development Board

Free Phone: 0800 12 2665    Phone: +64 7 873 8951

The Otorohanga District Development Board

 

Ōtorohanga District Council funds an autonomous business development board that promotes the Ōtorohanga district as a great place to live and work.

 

A council-funded Economic Development Agency that:

  • Promotes and supports activities or services that will stimulate the economy of the Ōtorohanga District
  • Markets the Ōtorohanga District as a great place in which to live, invest, do business or visit
  • Operates the Ōtorohanga i-SITE and Kawhia Information Centre
  • Helps facilitate projects for the benefit of the District.

 

We can help you with:

  • Business establishment and advice
  • District information
  • Tourism promotion
  • A subsidy to advertise your new business in the Ōtorohanga District.

 

Click here to download an Advertising Subsidy application form

Resources for Businesses

See how SODA Inc. can help your business thrive 

Funding Resources - SODA Inc.

 

 

 


Board members are local business people actively promoting the Ōtorohanga District as a wonderful lifestyle choice.

 

PO Box 152, Ōtorohanga 3940
 

Phone: 07 873 8951


 

The Board members are:

 

Chairperson

Marain Hurley

marayns@xtra.co.nz

027 473 6101

Council Rep

Katrina Christison

katrinachristison@otodc.govt.nz

021 530 774

Treasurer

Michelle Erikson

merikson205@gmail.com

022 411 5381

Board Member

Grant Matthews

otorohanga@paperplus.co.nz

021 871 779

 

Carolyn Christian

carolyn@otlgroup.co.nz 027 488 6326

 

Hano Ormsby

orsymbproducts@gmail.com

0275 927 297

       
       
       

 > Contact the Ōtorohanga District Development Board here or Phone: 07 873 8951

 

Constitution and Rules of the ODDB.PDF

 

ODDB nomination form for member of Society.docx


 

 

The Otorohanga District Council

17 Maniapoto Street, PO Box 11, Ōtorohanga 3900

 

Otorohanga District Council
Otorohanga District Council

Phone: 07 873 4000 or Free Phone: 0800 734 000 

 

A proactive, progressive, well-managed rural council committed to the highest level of service for residents, ratepayers and visitors.

 

We are open: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

 

The Ōtorohanga District Council operates three separate financial divisions. There are also two Community Boards representing the Ōtorohanga and Kawhia/Aotea communities.

 

For comprehensive information about the Ōtorohanga District Council and its services visit www.otodc.govt.nz


These people have chosen to live in the Otorohanga District – read their stories...

The Friendliest Place in New Zealand

 

Have you ever had one of those "paradigm shifts" hit you out of nowhere? Mine was, Otorohanga would be a great place to live!

 

I worked with people from Otorohanga for some seven years and during that time got to know many wonderful, warm and friendly locals, who really enjoy the town and all it has to offer. 

 

What’s more, they are also highly competent business owners who run professional and profitable companies. The District Development Board are awesome; they strive to keep Otorohanga vibrant and alive and go out of their way to invite newcomers into their networks and business community. "Co-opertition" is rife.

 

I had been self-employed for close to twenty years and the second huge shift in thinking was to get a “real job” and I was fortunate enough to do this with the Otorohanga District Council. 

 

I am now part of a team of helpful and dedicated people, who certainly do care about making sure everything looks good and runs as smoothly as possible.

Without exception, everyone has welcomed me to Otorohanga. People come up to you in the street and introduce themselves and are genuinely interested in getting to know you. This has never happened to me anywhere before.

Otorohanga is the friendliest place in New Zealand; if you don’t believe me come and see for yourself!"

 

Roger Brady

Engineering Manager
Otorohanga District Council


It doesn't get more Kiwi than this!

 

"Our move to New Zealand was driven by a desire for a better lifestyle.

 

When we were looking at where in NZ we might like to live, there were a few important challenges that needed to be addressed by our eventual new home town. These encompassed several aspects of life including work, play, cost and location.

 

We wanted to live, work and play in a rural community, preferably a laid-back but thriving small town, but mostly a place that was typically Kiwi. No point in moving 12,000 miles to congregate with other ex-pats?

 

Encouraged by the possibility of employment opportunities, we found Otorohanga an extremely friendly small town, with a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere. Everyone was very outgoing and it made us feel like we had been enveloped by an honest community, a place where we felt very comfortable and wanted to be part of.

 

Location was important to us - proximity to an International Airport as well as a good road / rail link to the rest of the country. In addition, Otorohanga has the added advantage of being a short drive to the 4th largest town in New Zealand (Hamilton).

 

We thoroughly recommend Otorohanga as a place to set down roots, but keep it quiet, as we don't want the whole world to move here!"

 

Duncan & Amanda Roobottom


 

The friendly Kiwiana town

 

 

"Lesleigh and I spent an afternoon here in Otorohanga soon after I had been appointed as the new principal of the town's College. We walked the streets that day, chatted with people and drank coffee at a local shop.

 

We noted the laughter, the friendliness and the wonderful blend of heartland Aotearoa New Zealand walking by. After coffee, we were called by the two magnificent carved pou pou which stand tall and proud outside the library and read some of the history of this place. 

 

We noted the flowers hanging in baskets on both sides of the road from one end of the street to the other, the 'Kiwiana' hanging from the street light posts and the clean green image this place has. Later that day, we drove round the town.

 

The large number of sporting and community facilities which dot this town became evident. Our first impressions were that it was an awesome community and town and so, within a few days we had made the decision to shift here to live. 

 

We are in no doubt that coming to live in Otorohanga with its friendly, caring and inclusive people was the best decision we could have made.

 

"We love it here."

 

Timoti Harris

Former Principal
Otorohanga College