// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Omarumutu say to his date? You mutu be kidding.
Omarumutu | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
 Interactive map of Omarumutu | |
| Coordinates: 37°59′13″S 177°23′56″E / 37.987°S 177.399°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District |
| Ward | Waioeka-Waiōtahe-Otara Ward |
| Electorates | |
| 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 | 14.21 km2 (5.49 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 174 |
| • Density | 12.2/km2 (31.7/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 3197 |
Omarumutu is a community in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, located near the mouth of the Waiaua River.[6] The area includes large tracts of Māori freehold land.[6] Neighbouring localities are Opape, on the coast 2 km (1.2 mi) to the east, and Waiaua, 2 km (1.2 mi) inland.
Demographics
[edit]Omarumutu locality, which also includes Waiaua, covers 14.21 km2 (5.49 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Ōtara-Tirohanga statistical area.[7]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 177 | — |
| 2013 | 183 | +0.48% |
| 2018 | 153 | −3.52% |
| 2023 | 174 | +2.61% |
| Source: [5][8] | ||
Omarumutu had a population of 174 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (13.7%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 9 people (−4.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 93 males and 81 females in 66 dwellings.[9] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 21 people (12.1%) aged under 15 years, 33 (19.0%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (46.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (24.1%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 63.8% European (Pākehā), 56.9% Māori, and 1.7% Asian. English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori by 12.1%, and other languages by 5.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 8.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 36.2% Christian, and 3.4% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.7%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (9.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 84 (54.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 51 (33.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (7.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 69 (45.1%) full-time, 18 (11.8%) part-time, and 9 (5.9%) unemployed.[5]
Ōtara-Tirohanga statistical area
[edit]Ōtara-Tirohanga statistical area covers 113.40 km2 (43.78 sq mi)[10] and had an estimated population of 1,430 as of June 2025,[11] with a population density of 13 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,188 | — |
| 2013 | 1,167 | −0.25% |
| 2018 | 1,176 | +0.15% |
| 2023 | 1,407 | +3.65% |
| Source: [12][13] | ||
Ōtara-Tirohanga had a population of 1,407 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 231 people (19.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 240 people (20.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 702 males, 702 females, and 3 people of other genders in 486 dwellings.[14] 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 291 people (20.7%) aged under 15 years, 225 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (40.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 327 (23.2%) aged 65 or older.[12]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 62.9% European (Pākehā); 57.1% Māori; 2.8% Pasifika; 1.5% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 15.1%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 4.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[12]
Religious affiliations were 28.6% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 8.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.5%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.[12]
Of those at least 15 years old, 153 (13.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 603 (54.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 363 (32.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 78 people (7.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 483 (43.3%) full-time, 165 (14.8%) part-time, and 48 (4.3%) unemployed.[12]
Marae
[edit]Ōmarumutu Marae features the Tūtāmure meeting house, named after the ancestral chief of Ngāti Ruatākena, who overcame Ngāti Kahungunu on the Māhia Peninsula. Tūtāmure's original fortifications are still visible; the nearby Makeo peak was one of his strongholds.[15] The house was opened in 1901.[16]
Omarumutu War Memorial Hall, located on the marae, was opened by Minister of Māori Affairs Ralph Hanan on 18 March 1961. Bishop Wiremu Panapa and Reverend Rangi Ehu unveiled a memorial tablet inside, presented to Ngāti Ruatākena and Whakatōhea by members of the Māori Battalion, to commemorate both Māori and Pākehā who died during the Boer War, World War I and World War II. Pine Taiapa oversaw the creation of the carvings, tukutuku and kōwhaiwhai that decorate the hall.[16] The artwork is promoted as some of the best Māori artwork in the country and is a tourist drawcard, open the public when tangihanga or other functions are not being held.[17][15]
A memorial cenotaph on the marae, a white column on a concrete base and funeral urn, was initially unveiled with the names of eight local men who died during wars. The names of a further eight who died during World War II and the Vietnam War were added in 1978. A granite memorial stone, also on a concrete base, lists the name of a further four men who died during World War II.[18]
In October 2020, the Government committed $61,944 from the Provincial Growth Fund to renovate the war memorial, toilets and cooking shed, creating an estimated 8 jobs.[19]
Education
[edit]Te Kura o Ōmarumutu is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[20] with a roll of 65 as of March 2026.[21] It opened in 1861 as Ōmarumutu Native School.[22] It became a Designated Character School in 2022.[23]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Final results 2025". Ōpōtiki District Council. 17 October 2025.
- ↑ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ↑ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- 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. 7015453. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- 1 2 "Omarumutu". landcare.co.nz. Landcare.
- ↑ "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. 7015453.
- ↑ "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 24 July 2025.
- ↑ "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. Ōtara-Tirohanga (204500). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ōtara-Tirohanga (204500). 2018 Census place summary: Ōtara-Tirohanga
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 "Tirohanga-Omarumutu". exploretheeastcoast.co.nz. Opotiki & District.
- 1 2 Amoamo, Tiwai; Tupene, Tuhi; Neich, Roger (March 1984). "The complementarity of history and art in Tūtāmure meeting-house, Ōmarumutu Marae, Ōpōtiki". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 93 (1): 5–37.
- ↑ Eagles, Jim (26 October 2011). "Carvings celebrate the history of New Zealand's East Cape". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald.
- ↑ "Ōmarumutu War Memorial Hall". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Primary Industries.
- ↑ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
- ↑ "Te Kura o Ōmarumutu Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ↑ "Te Kura o Ōmarumutu Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ↑ "Education Report: Agreement to consult on change of designation for Te Kura o Ōmarumutu" (PDF). Ministry of Education. 18 October 2021.
- ↑ Davis, Kelvin. "Change of Designation for Te Kura o Ōmarumutu (1861) (Rotorua)". New Zealand Government.