Omaio
Omaio | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
 Omaio Soldiers' Memorial Church | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°48′58″S 177°37′44″E / 37.816°S 177.629°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District |
| Ward | Coast |
| Community | Coast Community |
| Electorates | East Coast Waiariki |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Ōpōtiki | David Moore[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 105.41 km2 (40.70 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 234 |
| • Density | 2.2/km2 (5.7/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 3199 |
| Area code | 07 |
Omaio is a coastal township in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
During the 20th century, families collectively farmed the area for sheep and beef. More recently, they have been considering a shift to kiwifruit farming.[6] Funding was granted for a pilot kiwifruit farm in April 2017.[7]
During 2018 and 2019, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research tested climate-resilient crops in Omaio.[8] Due to the impact of climate change, Omaio has had fewer frosts, shorter winters, drier summers, more extreme weather, and greater pressure on its water supplies.[6]
In June 2019, Omaio hosted an historic signing of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement agreement between Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and the Crown.[9]
Demographics
[edit]Omaio and its surrounds cover 105.41 km2 (40.70 sq mi).[4] Omaio is part of the larger Cape Runaway statistical area.[10]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 198 | — |
| 2013 | 183 | −1.12% |
| 2018 | 171 | −1.35% |
| 2023 | 234 | +6.47% |
| Source: [5][11] | ||
Omaio and its surrounds had a population of 234 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (36.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 51 people (27.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 120 males and 114 females in 81 dwellings.[12] 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 36 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 108 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 51 (21.8%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 20.5% European (Pākehā), 89.7% Māori, 3.8% Pasifika, 1.3% Asian, and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 43.6%, and other languages by 1.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 7.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 25.6% Christian, and 46.2% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 26.9%, and 5.1% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (15.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 99 (50.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (32.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (4.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 75 (38.5%) full-time, 21 (10.8%) part-time, and 18 (9.2%) unemployed.[5]
Marae
[edit]The settlement has three marae of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.
- Ōmāio Marae and Rongomaihuatahi meeting house is a meeting place for the hapū of Te Whānau a Nuku.[13] In October 2020, the Government committed $1,646,820 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and five others, creating 10 jobs.[14]
- Ōtūwhare Marae and Te Poho o Rūtāia meeting house belongs to the hapū of Te Whānau a Rutaia.[15][13]
- Whitianga Marae and Tūtawake meeting house belongs to the hapū of Te Whānau a Tutawake.[15][13]
Education
[edit]Te Kura o Ōmaio opened in 1871 and was amalgamated with Whānau-ā-Apanui Area School and Raukōkore School to Te Kura o Te Whānau-a-Apanui in 2015.[16] Te Kura o Te Whānau-a-Apanui used the old school grounds in Omaio for the first few years until new premises were built in Te Kaha.ref>"Te Kura o Te Whanau-a Apanui - 21/12/2018". Education Review Office. 21 December 2018.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Rugby player Ruahei Demant lived in Omaio until the age of 12. She described the township as a "tiny place" in "the wops".[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mayor and Councillors". Ōpōtiki District Council. Retrieved 18 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". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015405. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b Keeble, Alexandra (29 June 2019). "The living net: kai in a changing climate". The Spinoff.
- ^ Boswell, Anne (27 April 2017). "$30 million kiwifruit investment to pave the way for Maori landowners". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ Boynton, John (21 December 2017). "Climate-resilient crops tested at East Coast settlement". Radio New Zealand. Te Manu Korihi.
- ^ "Te Whānau a Apanui and Crown sign Agreement in Principle". scoop.co.nz. New Zealand Government. 28 June 2019.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015405.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
- ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ "History". Te Kura o Te Whānau-a-Apanui. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ Stanley, Ashley (30 March 2020). "Practise, practise, practise: The Black Fern and the law". stuff.co.nz. newsroom.co.nz.