According to local Maoris, the name Otaika is of comparatively recent origin. In the gum-digging days in the latter half of last century, there were many gum diggers camping on the banks of the river just a few chains from the Portland turnoff.

Not far from the bridge, some of the piles of which are still to be seen, there was a creamery and a slaughterhouse, and these both used to drain into the river. In the evenings, the gum diggers used to dance to the music of a concertina on the old bridge. Herrings by the thousand used to swarm up to feed on the effluent from these buildings.

For the Maori gum-diggers, these fish were a gift from the gods, and they caught and ate them raw with great relish. Because of this the Maoris named the area Otaika. (ota = raw, and ika = fish).

Referenced from Florence Keene's Tai Tokerau, Northland Room, Whangarei Library