Ohoka
Ohoka | |
|---|---|
Township | |
 Ohoka looking north, with Rangiora in the distance | |
 Interactive map of Ohoka | |
| Coordinates: 43°22′S 172°34′E / 43.367°S 172.567°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waimakariri District |
| Ward | Oxford-Ohoka Ward |
| Community | Oxford-Ohoka Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waimakariri District Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Waimakariri | Dan Gordon[1] |
| • Waimakariri MP | Matt Doocey[2] |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.74 km2 (1.44 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 345 |
| • Density | 92.2/km2 (239/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7692 |
| Area code | 03 |
Ohoka is a small semi-rural township on the northern outskirts of Christchurch in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of the stake for a decoy parrot" for Ōhoka.[6]
A new subdivision proposed in 2022 would add 800–850 houses, shops and a village square to Ohoka.[7] Most residents are campaigning against the subdivision.[8] In July 2026, the proposed subdivision was submitted for approval under the fast-track legislation.[9]
Demographics
[edit]Ohoka locality covers 3.74 km2 (1.44 sq mi).[4] It is part of the larger Ohoka statistical area.[10]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 297 | — |
| 2013 | 306 | +0.43% |
| 2018 | 297 | −0.60% |
| 2023 | 345 | +3.04% |
| Source: [5][11] | ||
Ohoka had a population of 345 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (16.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 39 people (12.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 177 males and 168 females in 126 dwellings.[12] 3.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 60 people (17.4%) aged under 15 years, 45 (13.0%) aged 15 to 29, 156 (45.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 84 (24.3%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.5% European (Pākehā); 7.0% Māori; 1.7% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.1%, Māori by 1.7%, and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 43.5% Christian, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 44.3%, and 9.6% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 81 (28.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 162 (56.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 48 (16.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 54 people (18.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 138 (48.4%) full-time, 57 (20.0%) part-time, and 6 (2.1%) unemployed.[5]
Ohoka statistical area
[edit]Ohoka statistical area partly surrounds Mandeville North on the northwest, northeast and southeast. It covers 34.04 km2 (13.14 sq mi)[13] and had an estimated population of 1,750 as of June 2025,[14] with a population density of 51 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1,467 | — |
| 2018 | 1,602 | +1.78% |
| 2023 | 1,671 | +0.85% |
| Source: [15] | ||
Ohoka statistical area had a population of 1,671 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 69 people (4.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 204 people (13.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 843 males, 819 females, and 9 people of other genders in 561 dwellings.[16] 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 321 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 240 (14.4%) aged 15 to 29, 822 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 291 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.[15]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.8% European (Pākehā); 6.3% Māori; 0.9% Pasifika; 2.7% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.4%, Māori by 1.1%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 7.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[15]
Religious affiliations were 35.9% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.8%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.[15]
Of those at least 15 years old, 348 (25.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 780 (57.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 219 (16.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 276 people (20.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 723 (53.6%) full-time, 252 (18.7%) part-time, and 15 (1.1%) unemployed.[15]
Education
[edit]Ōhoka School is Ohoka's only school. It is a state co-educational full primary school[17] with a decile rating of 10 and a roll of 209 students (as of March 2026).[18] It opened in 1868 as Flaxton Side School, with a predecessor "temporary school" from 1862 for a few children of settlers. A building on the present school site was used for older students from about 1873. In 1877, the Flaxton Side School closed and a new school built on the current site called Flaxton Main School. It burned down in 1926. The buildings that replaced it are part of the present school.[19]
References
[edit]- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "Waimakariri - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7024138 and 7024165. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
- ↑ McDonald, Liz (26 February 2022). "New 800-home subdivision would create satellite town in North Canterbury". Stuff.
- ↑ Allott, Amber (16 July 2022). "Rural village to full-blown town: Opposition to North Canterbury subdivision ramps up". The Press.
- ↑ "Ōhoka Residential Subdivision". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "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. 7024138 and 7024165.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Ohoka (314802). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Ōhoka School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ "History of Ōhoka School". Retrieved 1 August 2026.