In the 1860s Otorohanga was a Ngāti Maniopoto village, with whares, peach trees and a flour mill. It was abandoned after the invasion of the Waikato, except for Lewis Hettit's farm. The area remained insecure, with Hettit's store being robbed by Te Kooti in 1869, but a meeting with Donald McLean later that year signalled moves towards peace. John William Ellis became postmaster and opened a store in 1885 with Henry Valder and John Taonui Hetet. In 1886 Ngāti Maniopoto built a court room for the Native Land Court and from that year mail was delivered 3 times a month and disputes which had delayed development were settled. On 9 March 1887 the railway was extended from Te Awamutu and a 14-room hotel was built, primarily for those attending the Court. The sawmill, later run by Ellis and Burnand, started in 1890 and closed in 1912.
Modern history
In the early 1900s many businesses were established by Māori, in particular John Ormsby. The Otorohanga Times was formed in 1912; it merged with the King Country Chronicle to form the Waitomo News in 1980. McDonald’s began a limestone quarry south of Otorohanga in 1968, which was bought by Graymont in 2015. Otorohanga’s population grew from 367 in 1916 to 1,569 in 1951, after which growth slowed. Although population dropped from 2,652 in 1991 and to 2,514 in 2013, the fall was much less than in the rest of King Country.
Harrodsville
In 1986, the town briefly changed its name to "Harrodsville". This was a protest in support of a restaurateur, Henry Harrod of Palmerston North, who was being forced to change the name of his restaurant following the threat of lawsuits from Mohamed Al Fayed, the then owner of Harrod's department store in London. As a show of solidarity for Henry Harrod, and in anticipation of actions against other similar-sounding businesses, it was proposed that every business in Otorohanga change its name to "Harrods". With the support of the District Council, Otorohanga temporarily changed the town's name to Harrodsville. After being lampooned in the British tabloids, Al Fayed dropped the legal action and Harrodsville and its shops reverted to their former names. The town's response raised widespread media interest around the world, with the BBC World Service and newspapers in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Canada covering the story.
Rereamanu Marae and Te Kawau Kaki Maro meeting house is a meeting place for the Maniapoto hapū of Huiao and Te Kanawa.
Tārewānga Marae and Te Rau a te Moa meeting house is a meeting place for the Maniapoto hapū of Pare te Kawa, Rungaterangi, Urunumia and Tārewānga.
Te Keeti Marae and Parewaeono meeting house is a meeting place of the Maniapoto hapū of Ngutu, Parewaeono and Urunumia.
Te Kotahitanga Marae and Te Kotahitanga meeting house is a meeting place for the Maniapoto hapū of Pourahi and Urunumia.
Turitea Marae and Turitea meeting house is a meeting place for the Maniapoto hapū of Pourahui.
Attractions
Otorohanga is internationally renowned for its Kiwi House, which was the first place in the world where the general public could view kiwi in captivity, and recorded an average of 5,000 visitors per month as of 2008. The town has a public library, a swimming complex, a supermarket and a 24-hour McDonald's restaurant.
Otorohanga School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school. It is a decile 2 school with a roll of as of Otorohanga South School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school. It is a decile 4 school with a roll of as of St Mary's Catholic School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state integrated Catholic primary school. It is a decile 5 school with a roll of as of Otorohanga College is a Year 9–13 co-educational state secondary school and community education centre. It is a decile 4 school with a roll of as of
