Omanu is a beach and suburb in Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.

Omanu
Map
Coordinates: 37°39′35″S 176°12′53″E / 37.659757°S 176.214844°E / -37.659757; 176.214844
CountryNew Zealand
CityTauranga
Local authorityTauranga City Council
Electoral wardMauao/Mount Maunganui General Ward
Area
 • Land102 ha (252 acres)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total3,310
Mount Maunganui (Bay of Plenty)
Omanu
Matapihi Arataki

The white sandy beach is accessible via several public walkways through the dunes. It is a popular place to swim, surf and walk,[3] and hosts surf lifesaving competitions.[4]

A surf lifesaving club was established at Omanu in 1947 to patrol the beach. It is now the largest surf club in Bay of Plenty,[3] and has the largest children's nippers programme in New Zealand.[5]

Between July 2014 and December 2015, Omanu recorded the most burglaries of any suburb in Tauranga. Police say many of the thieves are opportunists.[6]

The club also patrolled Papamoa Beach until a new club was established there in 1990.[5]

A new club house was proposed in 2002 and completed in June 2006.[5]

Tauranga City Council monitors erosion at the beach regularly and replenishes sand every year.[7]

Demographics edit

Omanu Beach covers 1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,310 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 3,245 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,574—    
20132,619+0.25%
20182,919+2.19%
Source: [8]

Omanu Beach had a population of 2,919 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 300 people (11.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 345 people (13.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,104 households, comprising 1,371 males and 1,545 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female. The median age was 40.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 582 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 471 (16.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,347 (46.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 519 (17.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.7% European/Pākehā, 10.9% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 3.0% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 19.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.0% had no religion, 31.7% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 615 (26.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 345 (14.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 531 people (22.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,161 (49.7%) people were employed full-time, 405 (17.3%) were part-time, and 78 (3.3%) were unemployed.[8]

Education edit

Omanu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[9][10] with a roll of 453 as of February 2024.[11]

Mount Maunganui Intermediate is a co-educational state intermediate school for Year 7 and 8 students,[12][13] with a roll of 315.[14]

Mount Maunganui College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,[15] established in 1958,[16] with a roll of 1,799.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Omanu Beach". theswimguide.org. Swim Guide Canada.
  4. ^ Tauranga, David (25 February 2017). "Sea, sand, sweat & glory at Omanu Beach". Sun Media. sunlive.co.nz.
  5. ^ a b c "About Us". omanubeach.co.nz. Omanu Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
  6. ^ Gillespie, Kiri (7 March 2016). "Special report: Tauranga's worst suburbs for burglaries revealed". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Bay of Plenty Times.
  7. ^ Houghton, Caitlin (8 March 2020). "Keeping our beaches sandy". Sun Media. sunlive.co.nz.
  8. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Omanu Beach (194300). 2018 Census place summary: Omanu Beach
  9. ^ "Omanu School Official School Website". omanu.school.nz.
  10. ^ "Omanu School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  11. ^ "Omanu School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  12. ^ "Mount Maunganui Intermediate Official School Website". mtint.school.nz.
  13. ^ "Mount Maunganui Intermediate Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  14. ^ "Mount Maunganui Intermediate Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  15. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  16. ^ "Official School Website". mmc.school.nz.
  17. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.