Te Wānanga o Raukawa is a Māori tertiary education institution based in Ōtaki, offering programmes taught in te reo Māori on subjects from language and culture to health sciences. The institution is not open to casual visitors, but its presence shapes the cultural character of the town in tangible ways.
For visitors interested in contemporary Māori cultural life rather than heritage tourism, the existence of the wānanga explains much about why Ōtaki has the cultural atmosphere it does. Main Street area, Ōtaki.