Edge Rewrite
Jump to content

Ōhiwa

Ōhiwa
Rural settlement
Ōhiwa Beach Road
Ōhiwa Beach Road
Map
Interactive map of Ōhiwa
Coordinates: 37°59′24″S 177°09′40″E / 37.990°S 177.161°E / -37.990; 177.161
CountryNew Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
Territorial authorityŌpōtiki District
WardWaioeka-Waiōtahe-Otara Ward
Electorates
Government
  Territorial authorityŌpōtiki District Council
  Regional councilBay of Plenty Regional Council
  Mayor of ŌpōtikiDavid Moore[1]
  East Coast MPDana Kirkpatrick[2]
  Waiariki MPRawiri Waititi[3]
Area
  Total
3.96 km2 (1.53 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
  Total
180
  Density45/km2 (120/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
3174

Ōhiwa is a rural settlement in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is on a headland on the eastern side of Ōhiwa Harbour, and on the western side of the Waiotahe River mouth.[6]

The New Zealand Geographic Board officially included the macron in the name from 16 July 2020.[7]

The Ferry Hotel was opened at Ōhiwa in 1873, together with a ferry service to Ōhope. A post office opened in the growing town in 1877. Unstable sand and erosion from 1915 destroyed the town. A second attempt to create sections for baches in the 1960s was also lost to erosion in 1978.[8]

Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park was created on the headland in 2010. It incorporates areas of archaeological importance from long Māori use of the area, including Onekawa .[9]

A local campground provides accommodation.[10]

Demographics

[edit]

Ōhiwa is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, which covers 3.96 km2 (1.53 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 180 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 45 people per km2. It is part of the larger Waiotahi statistical area.[11]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006177    
2013156−1.79%
2018171+1.85%
2023177+0.69%
Source: [12][13]

Ōhiwa had a population of 177 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (3.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (13.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 90 males, 84 females, and 3 people of other genders in 84 dwellings.[14] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 61.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 12 people (6.8%) aged under 15 years, 12 (6.8%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 69 (39.0%) aged 65 or older.[12]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.2% European (Pākehā), 18.6% Māori, 3.4% Asian, and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori by 3.4%, and other languages by 5.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[12]

Religious affiliations were 23.7% Christian, 1.7% Hindu, 1.7% Māori religious beliefs, and 3.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 67.8%, and 3.4% of people did not answer the census question.[12]

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (27.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 96 (58.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24 (14.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 60 (36.4%) full-time, 24 (14.5%) part-time, and 6 (3.6%) unemployed.[12]

References

[edit]
  1. "Final results 2025". Ōpōtiki District Council. 17 October 2025.
  2. "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. Harriss, Gavin (August 2022). Ohiwa, Bay of Plenty (Map). NZ Topo Map.
  7. "Notice of Approved Official Geographic Names". New Zealand Gazette. 16 July 2020.
  8. Quinn, Peter James (May 2002). "Ohiwa – The food basket of many hands". New Zealand Geographic Magazine.
  9. "Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park". Bay of Plenty Region. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  10. "Ohiwa Beach". Tasman Holiday Parks. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  11. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  12. 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. Ōhiwa (1265). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015415.
  14. "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.