The word community is not just in our name – it’s at the heart of everything the Ōtaki Women’s Community Club does. This year the club has raised $10,000 for the community; we have seen a new club Patron, hundreds of young people have participated in the Kids Market and the Otaki Market has flourished.
OWCC Giving back to the Community
All funds from the stall fees are donated back into the Otaki Community. As well as donations to local organisations such as Fire Service, local sports teams, Surf Lifesaving club and Waka Ama. Here are just some of those stories:
Two Otaki College students, Rosie and Ethan, were awarded the 2024 Otaki Women's Community Club Scholarships in recognition of their outstanding academic mahi. These awards will support their future studies, two well deserving rangatahi! Rosie: First-year health science and Ethan: Electrical engineering
Awards for the Market and the OWCC
Not to brag, but we have won and were finalist in a couple of awards this year!
WIINER: 2024 BSI Culture Excellence Awards, Otaki Market
WINNER: 2025 Kiwibank Local Hero Medalists, Claire Roper for the Kids Market
EXCEPTIONAL NOMINEE: 2024 GirlBoss Awards, Harper and Alanah from the Kids Market
FINALIST: 2024 Wellington Community Airport Awards, Health & Wellbeing, OWCC
FINALIST: 2024 Wellington Community Airport Awards, Young People, Kids Market
RECOGNISED: 2024 Volunteer Kapiti, Otaki Market
We were recognised by Volunteer Kapiti in 2024 for our work at the Otaki Market and the Otaki Kids Market. A big thank you to all our volunteers and a shoutout to the young people from Otaki College who help at the Otaki Kids Market.
In the Media!
You may have seen us in the Newspaper, heard us on the radio or even seen us on the Telly!
Did you see the Kids Market on Seven Sharp! A huge shout out to all the talented tamariki and rangatahi who craft such amazing products and creations! Big thanks to Kelly & Co for making this happen.
The Otaki Market
The club runs a popular outdoor Sunday market, in the past 18 months this has been revitalised – providing a hub for locals to gather and connect, an outlet for local businesses to showcase their products. The market was on the brink of closure but is now thriving – with the stallholder database tripled in size, and each market with an average of 35 well-visited stalls. Find out more about the Otaki Market here.
As a market team we have also introduced stallholder profiles: Dave: The Maestro of New Zealand Pottery at the Ōtaki Market, Bounce: the Natural Solution for Keeping Nits at Bay and Meet Linda and Kevin: The Creative Duo Behind Stunning Handmade Garden Art
We are also extremely happy to see the revitalization of the carpark! Thanks to Kapiti Coast District Council.
Arty and crafty
Have you spotted our new signs? We've had a little bit of a makeover, and our FREE craft table has seen a recent upgrade, all thanks to Tracey from the Otaki Women's Community Club. You'll find the craft table at our special themed events.
Teaming up and making it happen in our community!
Breakfast on us! Otaki & Te Horo Fire Service: A massive high-five to some real-life superheroes – our very own Otaki and Te Horo Volunteer Fire Brigade! This crew have been working hard and had a challenging couple of weeks. Click here to read more.
Celebrating Easter with Kindness: A Heartfelt Thank You: The Ōtaki Easter Market was egg-citing! We'd like to say thanks to The Kapiti Kindness Trust, along with a special mention to the Easter Bunny.
Matariki on Main Street: Māoriland and the Ōtaki Market team up: The collaboration between Māoriland and the Ōtaki Market for the Matariki Street Party was a celebration of local culture and creativity. Find out more here
Otaki College night market + the kids market: The Otaki College Night Market organizing team did an absolutely stellar job! Their dedication and hard work shone through in every detail, from planning and coordination to execution. Read more
Ōtaki Kids Market partners with Coast Access Radio: What better way to promote the Kids Market than with live radio interviews featuring the young participants! Each interview spotlights individual stallholders and raises awareness about the market. Read more
Otaki Kids Market Team visit Raumati South School: Raumati South School Workshop, we worked with 100 young people and took them through a workshop about being an entrepreneur and creating sustainable products.
Home Baking: Who doesn't love a bit of home baking! A team from the club regularly bake delicious snacks and treats for the residents of Ocean View Rest Home in Otaki.
Music!
We've had a couple of buskers at the Otaki Market and the Otaki Kids Market this year, they add to the chilled atmosphere! Thanks to Henere Parker and The Pretty Boys.
the new patron of the Ōtaki women's club
Introducing Pat Bloxham, the new Patron of the Otaki Women's Community Club (OWCC). Pat is a familiar face in our community, known for her warmth, dedication and genuine love for Ōtaki. Read more here.
We also said farewell to members of the OWCC who have retired from the Club in 2024. We thank them for all their years of dedication and service to the Otaki Women's Community Club.
The Otaki Kids Market
Youngsters come from all over the North Island to take part. It’s a safe space for young people to create, engage and learn. They make or source their own products, manage their own stall, for a gold coin koha. In the past year there has been an incredible display of youthful talent and entrepreneurial spirit, 460 children (5-19 years) running and managing stalls. Find out more
Many thanks to Mayor Janet, Otaki Ward Councilor Shelly Warwick and the KCDC Waste Minimisation team for the difficult process of judging the best kids stall.
Happy 1st birthday
We celebrated one year of the Otaki Kids Market in January 2024. To help celebrate we had two awesome young cake Decorators for the Kids Market one year anniversary cake! Zhyla 12 and Meia 10 years old. We are super excited to see their amazing cake and all their hard mahi! Thanks to Shelly Warwick for helping with the cake cutting celebrations.
BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY
Levin’s Saoirse Williamson, 13, is increasing the admiral butterfly population in Horowhenua, one chrysalis at a time. Saoirse and her friends fundraised by selling home baking at the Ōtaki Kids Market and the Centre Skate Rink. The Market team where invited to a special review of the sanctuary at Horowhenua College. You can read the article here: Levin teen Saoirse Williamson creates butterfly sanctuary to boost admiral population - NZ Herald
Otaki Kids Workshop
As well as the market, the club offered a kid's workshop, teaching young people how to take their stalls to the next level. Including a branding and marketing session, media training with Coast Access Radio and the Kapiti mayor, Dragon’s Den style pitching with 10 local business owners, and a merchandising session, culminating with a pop-up market. Thanks to Tim Costly for presenting all the certificates at the Kids Workshop!
Books & Co, Hunting & Fishing, New World, Bounce, Elemental Cider, Traffic Fox, My Walk in Wardrobe and Caravan and Co. As well as club members Di Buchan, Chrissy Anderson and Pat Bloxham.
The Kapiti Food Fair
The Ōtaki Kids Market shined at the Kāpiti Food Fair, delivering a standout pop-up stall that highlighted the remarkable skills of its young entrepreneurs. Featuring an exciting lineup of vendors, including Fletcher, Cleo, The Baker Girls, Harper, Neve and Effie, Alana, and Elsa, the stall was a resounding success, demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit of Ōtaki’s youth.
Sustainability at the Otaki Market
This year we introduced a sustainability strategy. The Ōtaki Market, a vibrant hub for local businesses and community spirit, is dedicated to promoting sustainability and supporting eco-friendly stallholders. With a focus on environmental responsibility, many of the market’s vendors emphasize sustainable practices, offering products that are locally sourced, handmade, and environmentally conscious. From organic produce to upcycled crafts, these stallholders contribute to a market experience that values sustainability, community, and the well-being of future generations.
We partnered with the No. 49 District of Kapiti Squadron, Air Training Corps, we ensure effective waste management through organized recycling stations and community involvement. We also took part in KCDC's Sustainable September!
Otaki Camping and Craft Expo
The Ōtaki Camping and Craft Expo (2&3 November) proved to be an outstanding success, drawing large crowds and celebrating community spirit over two action-packed days.
We teamed up with Otaki Hunting and Fishing. 3,000 visitors came to the Expo, from the Kapiti Coast, Porirua, Wellington, Lower and Upper Hutt, Levin, Palmerston North, Napier, Feilding, Whanganui, New Plymouth, and as far as Christchurch! There was over 30 craft and food stalls, with 100% of stall fees going to local charity. Read more
Special thanks to the amazing Māori Wardens who helped keep the Camping and Craft Expo running smoothly!
Community stalls at the Otaki Market
We've had heaps of awesome community stalls at the Otaki Market this year, fundraising for fantastic causes. If you'd like to a fundraising stall or the sausage sizzle, drop us an email: otakimarket@outlook.com
Christmas Raffle
Every year, the Club run a Christmas Raffle, this year the raffle was run by mother and daughter team Chris and Kirsten, who sold all the tickets in record time! Big thanks to all the support from local businesses and the community for contributing.
We have some pretty awesome club members at the Ōtaki Women's community club.
Did you spot Di Buchan in the Kapiti News?
Kirsten Housiaux has been organising Pink Ribbon collection for nearly ten years!
Club members volunteer and help out at the Otaki Kite Festival
OTAKI COMMUNITY EXPO
We attended the Community Expo this year, and it was a great turn out! So much fun to meet all the other vendors and say hi to the local community.
Christmas party
The club is flourishing, with new members bringing positive energy, giving the founding members the confidence that the special essence of the club will continue. It is a legacy built on love for community, and the revitalisation means this is safeguarded now, and into the future.
Looking to connect with others and make a difference?
Join the Ōtaki Women’s Community Club! Be part of a vibrant group that enjoys friendship, social events, community fundraising, and playing a key role in the Ōtaki Market. We'd love to welcome you!
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