Here we embrace and celebrate popular Kiwi culture (Kiwiana) – the icons, heroes and heritage that make us uniquely Kiwi.
Come laugh a little while you relive those childhood memories.
For fellow-Kiwis it’s an opportunity to re-discover the ‘characters’ in our history – Aunt Daisy, Barry Crump, Ches’n Dale – and our past and present heroes like Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Colin Meads, Bruce McLaren, the ANZACs and the All Blacks.
Remember those nostalgic childhood days when life seemed simpler with Saturday matinee movies, cricket in the back yard of the quarter acre section or school days with warm school milk!
Otorohanga’s Kiwiana displays in the Ed Hillary Walkway (and nearby shop windows) feature everything from Buzzy Bee, Marmite, Pavlova and Weetbix to No.8 Wire, the Kiwi, Sheep and the Farm Dog. We’ve also commissioned Kiwiana murals and sculptures that are now part of the streetscape. Even our public toilets are an amusing tribute to “Kiwiana”!
To complete your “Kiwiana” experience, a visit to the world-famous Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park is a ‘must do’. Here you can see a real kiwi, plus one of NZ’s best selections of native birds and reptiles.
Kiwiana aside, Otorohanga has a great choice of shops, cafés and places to stay.
From hearty possum stew and yummy toffee apples to light and fluffy pavlova – we have over 30 kiwi recipes for you to cook up a storm – featuring kiwi classics and favourites from the Edmonds Cookery Book plus a few borrowed from famous NZ chefs and some modern twists on NZ menu items.
These unique posters are available from the Otorohanga i-SITE.
We can arrange postage or you can pick some up when you visit us in Kiwiana Town!
"June and I were delighted to visit Otorohanga and experience the real Kiwiana. We are most impressed with its website which celebrates our Kiwi icons, heroes and traditions. We look forward to another visit soon."
Sir Edmund Hillary
"Kiwiana: Any of the many 'collectables', items redolent of New Zealand life and culture."
Oxford N.Z. Dictionary
"[Otorohanga] (often called 'Oto' by locals) is a friendly, easy-going farming community and the perfect example of the Kiwi icon that is the one street town... [it’s] decorated with murals and displays of other Kiwiana, including the All Blacks, sheep, Maori carvings, gumboots, Anchor butter and pavlova."
Lonely Planet