Rakahouka is a community in the
Southland region of New Zealand's
South Island
The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
. It is located in a fertile farming area on the
Southland Plains
The Southland Plains is a general name given to several areas of low-lying land in the South Island of New Zealand, separated by the rise of the Hokonui Hills in the north. It forms a sizeable area of Southland region and encompasses its two p ...
just south of the
Makarewa River
The Makarewa River is the largest tributary of the Ōreti River, and is in Southland, New Zealand. It flows for from its source in the Hokonui Hills, joining the Ōreti just north of Invercargill
Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and ...
. The nearest major city,
Invercargill
Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...
, is approximately 15 km to the southwest, and nearby villages include
Grove Bush and
Mabel Bush
Mabel Bush is a small community in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. The community has an estimated population of 127 people. The main building in the area is the Mabel Bush Hall, which consists of the hall and tennis court ...
to the north,
Woodlands to the southeast, and
Myross Bush and
Roslyn Bush to the southwest.
, which links
Lorneville and
Dacre, runs through Rakahouka.
Populated places in the Southland Region
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