Otangarei
Map
Coordinates: 35°41′34″S 174°19′9″E / 35.69278°S 174.31917°E / -35.69278; 174.31917
CountryNew Zealand
CityWhangarei District Council
Electoral wardWhangārei Urban Ward
Area
 • Land77 ha (190 acres)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total2,360
Kamo Tikipunga
Whau Valley
Otangarei
Kensington Mairtown (Mount Parihaka)

Otangarei is a suburb of Whangārei, in Northland Region, New Zealand.[3]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of [a] group of people leaping" for Ōtāngarei.[4]

Te Kotahitanga Marae o Otangarei is the community's local marae. It is a meeting ground for the Ngāpuhi hapū of Uri o Te Tangata,[5] and features Te Puawaitanga Hou meeting house.[6]

Demographics edit

Otangarei covers 0.77 km2 (0.30 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,360 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 3,065 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,139—    
20131,635−3.77%
20182,109+5.22%
Source: [7]

Before the 2023 census, the suburb had a larger boundary, covering 1.04 km2 (0.40 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Otangarei had a population of 2,109 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 474 people (29.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 30 people (−1.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 585 households, comprising 1,071 males and 1,044 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 28.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 624 people (29.6%) aged under 15 years, 465 (22.0%) aged 15 to 29, 813 (38.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (10.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 30.2% European/Pākehā, 78.4% Māori, 11.1% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 5.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 44.4% had no religion, 32.6% were Christian, 14.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.1% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (3.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 462 (31.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $17,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 30 people (2.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 435 (29.3%) people were employed full-time, 189 (12.7%) were part-time, and 177 (11.9%) were unemployed.[7]

Education edit

Te Kura o Otangarei is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 1[8] and 74 students as of February 2024.[9] It opened in 1955 as Otangarei Primary School and opened its full immersion Māori language unit in 1996. It expanded to include year 7 and 8 students in 2004, and adopted its current name in 2006.[10] The school offers a choice between full immersion Māori language classes, bilingual classes or mainstream education.[11]

As of 2018, there are also adult education classes in Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Marae and Waiata on a weekly basis for both the Otangarei and wider communities held at Te Puawaitanga Marae by Shaquille Shortland.

Sport edit

Rugby edit

City RFC are based in Otangarei and play in the Northland Rugby Union South Zone competitions. The club colours are blue & white hoops.

Rugby league edit

City Knights (formerly Kensington Knights) are based in Otangarei and play in the Whangarei City & Districts rugby league competitions.

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 24. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  4. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  6. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  7. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Otangarei (106400). 2018 Census place summary: Otangarei
  8. ^ Education Counts: Te Kura o Otangarei
  9. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  10. ^ "History". Te Kura o Otangarei. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Te Kura o Otangarei - 05/10/2015". Education Review Office. October 2015.