Ōpōtiki

Ōpōtiki /ɔːpɔːˈtɪki/ (from Ōpōtiki-Mai-Tawhiti)[2] is a small town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. It houses the headquarters of the Ōpōtiki District Council and comes under the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Ōpōtiki
Minor urban area
Church Street, Ōpōtiki
Coordinates: 38°0.5′S 177°17′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
Territorial authorityŌpōtiki District
WardsWaioeka-Waiotahe
Coast
Government
 • MayorLyn Riesterer
 • Deputy MayorShona Browne
Population
 (June 2020)[1]
 • District10,000
 • Urban
5,210
Postcode(s)
3122
WebsiteThe council's site

Demographics

Ōpōtiki has a large Māori population that exceeds 50%, making it one of the few towns in New Zealand to be predominantly populated by Māori (along with Wairoa and Kawerau).[3]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20064,443—    
20134,071−1.24%
20184,806+3.38%
Source: [4]

Ōpōtiki, comprising the statistical areas of Woodlands and Ōpōtiki, had a population of 4,806 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 735 people (18.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 363 people (8.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,539 households. There were 2,337 males and 2,472 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 1,221 people (25.4%) aged under 15 years, 921 (19.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,920 (40.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 744 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 46.7% European/Pākehā, 67.9% Māori, 4.2% Pacific peoples, 3.7% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 8.2%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 41.9% had no religion, 30.7% were Christian, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.1% were Buddhist and 20.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 303 (8.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,029 (28.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,530 (42.7%) people were employed full-time, 480 (13.4%) were part-time, and 300 (8.4%) were unemployed.[4]

Individual statistical areas
NamePopulationHouseholdsMedian ageMedian income
Woodlands1,04739646.6 years$27,500[5]
Ōpōtiki3,7591,14331.9 years$20,000[6]
New Zealand37.4 years$31,800

Natural history

Geography

The town of Ōpōtiki is situated exactly on latitude 38° South. The climate is temperate. Summer temperatures reach the mid-20s (Celsius, mid-70s Fahrenheit) on the coast and encourage a continuation of the beach culture of the Bay of Plenty. Winter days are often cloudless, the daytime temperature never drops below freezing but there may be a mild frost at night. Winter snow falls along the crest of the ranges, and on the higher peaks (over 1000 m) may remain for a few weeks. Rain occurs at any season. Severe localised rainstorms ('cloudbursts') may occur in the high country and have caused flash flooding including past inundations of Ōpōtiki township.[7]

Marae

Maromahue Marae and Te Poho o Kahungunu meeting house is a traditional meeting place of the Whakatōhea hapū of Te Ūpokorehe.[8][9] In October 2020, the Government committed $364,597 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating 16 jobs.[10]

Te Rere Marae and Te Iringa meeting house is a meeting place of the Whakatōhea hapū of Ngāti Ngahere.[8][9] In October 2020, the Government committed $744,574 to upgrade it and two other marae, creating 30 jobs.[10]

Rongopopoia Marae, also known as Te Kahikatea Marae, is a meeting place of the Tūhoe hapū of Upokorehe.[8][9]

Education

Opotiki College is a co-educational state high school for Year 9 to 13 students,[11][12] with a roll of 377 as of March 2020.[13]

Ōpōtiki has three co-educational primary schools for Year 1 to 8 students: Opotiki School,[14] with a roll of 243;[15] Ashbrook School,[16] with a roll of 104;[17] and Woodlands School,[18] with a roll of 115.[19]

St Joseph's Catholic School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[20] with a roll of 175 as of March 2020.[21]

Notable people

James Rolleston, an actor known for his role in Boy and Vodafone NZ advertisements, lives and was raised in Ōpōtiki.

See also

Notes
  1. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. "Ōpōtiki District – the pet fish from afar".
  3. McQuillan, Laura (23 September 2018). "Which is New Zealand's whitest region?". Stuff.
  4. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Woodlands (204300) and Ōpōtiki (204400).
  5. 2018 Census place summary: Woodlands
  6. 2018 Census place summary: Ōpōtiki
  7. Heginbotham & Esler p. 379-381 give a useful scientific summary.
  8. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  9. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  10. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  11. "Opotiki College Official School Website". opotikicol.school.nz.
  12. "Opotiki College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  13. "Opotiki College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  14. "Opotiki School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  15. "Opotiki School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  16. "Ashbrook School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  17. "Ashbrook School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  18. "Woodlands School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  19. "Woodlands School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  20. "St Joseph's Catholic School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  21. "St Joseph's Catholic School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

References
  • M. Heginbotham & A.E. Esler, "Wild vascular plants of the Opotiki-East Cape region, North Island, New Zealand". NZ Journal of Botany, 1985, vol. 23: 379–406.
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