Ōhau is a village and semi-rural community in the Horowhenua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.[3] It is located just south of Levin on State Highway 1.

Ōhau
Rural settlement
Map
Coordinates: 40°39′43″S 175°15′00″E / 40.662°S 175.250°E / -40.662; 175.250
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui region
Territorial authorityHorowhenua District
Wards
  • Waiopehu General Ward
  • Horowhenua Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityHorowhenua District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Horowhenua MayorBernie Wanden
 • Ōtaki MPTim Costley
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
 • Total4.47 km2 (1.73 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total850
 • Density190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Meeting house in Ohau

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of Hau" for Ōhau, but an alternative meaning could be "windy place".[4]

The former Ohau railway station is located in Ohau.[5] It operated from 1886 to 1987,[6] with most services ending in 1971.[7]

Marae

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The local Kikopiri Marae and Kikopiri meeting house are a tribal meeting ground for the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Hikitanga and Ngāti Kikopiri.[8][9]

In October 2020, the Government committed $335,056 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Kikopiri Marae and Kererū Marae, creating 48 jobs.[10]

Demographics

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Ōhau is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 4.47 km2 (1.73 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 850 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 190 people per km2. It is part of the larger Ōhau-Manakau statistical area.

Historical population for Ōhau settlement
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006438—    
2013561+3.60%
2018666+3.49%
Source: [11]

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a larger boundary, covering 6.12 km2 (2.36 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Ōhau had a population of 666 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (18.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 228 people (52.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 249 households, comprising 351 males and 315 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female, with 93 people (14.0%) aged under 15 years, 96 (14.4%) aged 15 to 29, 309 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 168 (25.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.5% European/Pākehā, 11.3% Māori, 1.4% Pasifika, 1.8% Asian, and 0.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.3% had no religion, 36.0% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 81 (14.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 117 (20.4%) people had no formal qualifications. 93 people (16.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 264 (46.1%) people were employed full-time, 87 (15.2%) were part-time, and 15 (2.6%) were unemployed.[11]

Ōhau-Manakau

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Ōhau-Manakau statistical area, which includes Manakau, covers 41.75 km2 (16.12 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,450 as of June 2024,[12] with a population density of 58.68 people per km2.

Historical population of Ōhau-Manakau
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,791—    
20131,785−0.05%
20182,154+3.83%
Source: [13]

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 42.23 km2 (16.31 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Ōhau-Manakau had a population of 2,154 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 369 people (20.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 363 people (20.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 825 households, comprising 1,086 males and 1,065 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 51.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 318 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 291 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 969 (45.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 573 (26.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 84.7% European/Pākehā, 17.3% Māori, 3.1% Pasifika, 5.2% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.8% had no religion, 35.1% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 249 (13.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 441 (24.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 243 people (13.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 849 (46.2%) people were employed full-time, 255 (13.9%) were part-time, and 60 (3.3%) were unemployed.[13]

Education

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Ōhau School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[14][15] with a roll of 152 as of August 2024.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "The good life beckons in idyllic Ohau". Stuff. Dominion Post.
  4. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  6. ^ Pierre, Bill (1981). North Island Main Trunk. Wellington: A.H&A.W Reed. pp. 289–290. ISBN 0589013165.
  7. ^ Scoble, Juliet (2012). Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand, 1863 to 2012. Wellington: Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  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. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7018999, 7019002–7019004 and 7019008.
  12. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ōhau-Manakau (234800). 2018 Census place summary: Ōhau-Manakau
  14. ^ "Official School Website". ohau.school.nz.
  15. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  16. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.