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

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

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.