Ōhope
Ōhope | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Ōhope from the air, looking West | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°57′58″S 177°02′35″E / 37.966°S 177.043°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Whakatāne District |
| Ward | Whakatāne-Ōhope General Ward |
| Community | Whakatāne-Ōhope Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Whakatāne District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Whakatāne | Victor Luca[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.33 km2 (2.44 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[5] | |
• Total | 3,080 |
| • Density | 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| Area code | 07 |
Ōhope is a coastal town situated on the northeastern coast of the Eastern Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's North Island. It is six kilometres east of Whakatāne, and is located between Ōhiwa Harbour to the south and Ōhope Beach to the north, providing views of both.
Name
[edit]The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of [the] main body of an army" for Ōhope.[6] On 10 October 1974, the name of the settlement was formally changed from Ohope Beach to Ohope.[7] On 21 June 2019, the official name of the town was changed to Ōhope (with a macron) by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[8]
Demographics
[edit]Stats NZ describes Ōhope as a small urban area, which covers 6.33 km2 (2.44 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 3,080 as of June 2024,[5] with a population density of 487 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,853 | — |
| 2013 | 2,847 | −0.03% |
| 2018 | 3,177 | +2.22% |
| 2023 | 3,033 | −0.92% |
| Source: [9][10] | ||
Ōhope had a population of 3,033 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 144 people (−4.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 186 people (6.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,476 males, 1,551 females, and 6 people of other genders in 1,362 dwellings.[11] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 55.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 411 people (13.6%) aged under 15 years, 339 (11.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,245 (41.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,038 (34.2%) aged 65 or older.[9]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.9% European (Pākehā); 17.4% Māori; 1.5% Pasifika; 2.8% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.7%, Māori by 4.4%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 0.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[9]
Religious affiliations were 34.1% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.5% Islam, 0.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.9%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.[9]
Of those at least 15 years old, 819 (31.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,326 (50.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 477 (18.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 435 people (16.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,128 (43.0%) full-time, 396 (15.1%) part-time, and 45 (1.7%) unemployed.[9]
Tourism
[edit]Ōhope is a holiday destination during the New Zealand summer, with several kilometres of safe swimming beaches.[12] The western end of the beach, commonly known as West End is popular for surfing during the summer and Christmas period.[13] Visitors can explore walking and cycling tracks, including the scenic Ōhope Scenic Reserve Track and Ōhope Harbourside Trail, which offers views of the coastline, native bush and Ōhiwa Harbour. Ōhope Beach has earned recognition as one of New Zealand's most cherished coastal destinations through various accolades over the years. In 2014, it was voted the country's most loved beach, securing nearly 100,000 of the over 600,000 votes cast in a social media campaign by the Automobile Association.[14] More recently, in 2024, Ōhope Beach was honored as the best family beach for the third consecutive year in the New Zealand Herald's Best Beach competition. The beach also secured second place in the best camping beach category.[15][16] Ōhope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, is a major attraction for both locals and visitors, especially during the summer months. The park offers a range of accommodations, including campgrounds, cabins, and powered sites.
Infrastructure
[edit]Education
[edit]Ōhope Beach School is a co-educational school for Years 1 to 6, with a roll of 216 as of March 2025.[17] A school was approved for Ōhope Beach in 1947[18] Progress was slow, partly due to finding a suitable site.[19] The school opened in 1951.[20]
Transportation
[edit]The town is also serviced by public transport links via Baybus operated by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to nearby Whakatāne via the 122 bus route.[21] Private cars, limited public transport and taxis (as well as cycling and walking) are the primary modes of transport for residents. Ōhope is primarily connected to Whakatāne through Ōhope Road, a two-lane route with passing lanes on the hill inclines. It is also linked to the south via the Pacific Coast Highway, providing access to Tāneatua and Ōpōtiki.
Facilities
[edit]The town offers a range of amenities, including cafes, shops, and recreational facilities. To the east, facilities such as the Port Ōhope Wharf, Ōhope Library, Ōhope Fire Station, Ōhope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park and an aged care facility are present. Ōhope is the main venue for the Local Wild Food Festival, a celebration of local produce and unique culinary experiences. The festival, which draws food lovers from across the region, showcases a variety of wild and foraged foods, with a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly dining.[22]
Gallery
[edit]-
Digging for tuatua on Ōhope Beach in summer -
Ōhope from above
Climate
[edit]| Climate data for Port Ohope (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.8 (74.8) |
24.3 (75.7) |
22.8 (73.0) |
20.3 (68.5) |
17.7 (63.9) |
15.4 (59.7) |
14.9 (58.8) |
15.5 (59.9) |
16.9 (62.4) |
18.4 (65.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
22.0 (71.6) |
19.3 (66.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 19.5 (67.1) |
20.1 (68.2) |
18.5 (65.3) |
16.0 (60.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
11.2 (52.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
11.1 (52.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.0 (64.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.3 (59.5) |
15.9 (60.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
11.7 (53.1) |
9.4 (48.9) |
7.1 (44.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
6.7 (44.1) |
8.4 (47.1) |
10.1 (50.2) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
10.9 (51.6) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 82.0 (3.23) |
72.5 (2.85) |
75.7 (2.98) |
72.7 (2.86) |
71.0 (2.80) |
108.9 (4.29) |
84.5 (3.33) |
104.5 (4.11) |
80.3 (3.16) |
88.5 (3.48) |
86.2 (3.39) |
74.6 (2.94) |
1,001.4 (39.42) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 240.1 | 207.9 | 195.7 | 198.1 | 164.4 | 132.4 | 159.9 | 160.2 | 172.5 | 193.3 | 202.1 | 234.1 | 2,260.7 |
| Source: NIWA[23] | |||||||||||||
References
[edit]
- ^ "Victor Luca". Whakatāne District Council. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
- ^ "New Zealand Gazetteer". New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "NZGB Notices — June 2019". Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Ōhope (1258). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ōhope (203200). 2018 Census place summary: Ōhope
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Ōhope Beach: for any beach-related activity you can think of". New Zealand Automobile Association. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ "The best big beaches in the Bay of Plenty". SunLive. 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Ohope Beach named New Zealand's most loved". Scoop News. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "Ōhope no longer best kept secret as it scoops another title". The New Zealand Herald. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "Ōhope is no longer the best kept secret". RNZ. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Ohope Beach School Approved". Rotorua Morning Post. 2 September 1947.
- ^ "No School, No Children! Ohope Parents Demand Action Before New Year". Bay of Plenty Beacon. 2 October 1950.
- ^ "Ohope School At Week-end". Rotorua Morning Post. 11 April 1951.
- ^ "Network Maps | Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana". www.baybus.co.nz. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "Local Wild Food Festival 2025 | Whakatāne NZ". Whakatāne i-SITE. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database: Port Ohope". NIWA. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
