Onewhero
Onewhero | |
|---|---|
 School and Community hall | |
 Interactive map of Onewhero | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato |
| District | Waikato District |
| Wards |
|
| Community | Rural Port Waikato Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waikato District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Waikato | Aksel Bech[3] |
| • Port Waikato MP | Andrew Bayly[4] |
| • Hauraki-Waikato MP | Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke[5] |
| Area | |
• Total | 21.84 km2 (8.43 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[2] | |
• Total | 627 |
| • Density | 28.7/km2 (74.4/sq mi) |
Onewhero is a village and rural community in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.
Pukekohe and Tuakau are located north of Onewhero, across the Waikato River;
The name Onewhero translates from Maori as "Red Earth", which describes the soil colour typical in the Franklin region.[6]
The Onewhero village consists of an Anglican church, school, fire station, garage, lawn bowls club and tennis club. The Onewhero Society of Performing Arts runs a local performing arts theatre, and the local rugby club hosts community events and community board meetings.[7] The Onewhero Golf Club is located in nearby Pukekawa.
The local Te Awamaarahi marae is a meeting ground for the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Āmaru, Ngāti Pou and Ngāti Tiipa.[8] It includes the wharenui (meeting house) of Whare Wōnanga.[9]
North of Onewhero, Harker Reserve[10] has 12 m (39 ft) (or 20m)[11] high Te Wai Heke O Maoa, or Vivian Falls, and a 3 km (1.9 mi) bush walkway.[12] It is near the end of Miller Rd.[13] The waterfall goes over the edge of South Auckland volcanic field's Onewhero maar crater, falling onto Miocene aged Carter Siltstone.[14]
Demographics
[edit]Onewhero is in three SA1 statistical areas which cover 21.85 km2 (8.44 sq mi).[1] The SA1 areas are part of the larger Onewhero statistical area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 525 | — |
| 2013 | 537 | +0.32% |
| 2018 | 552 | +0.55% |
| 2023 | 627 | +2.58% |
| Source: [15][2] | ||
The SA1 areas had a population of 627 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 75 people (13.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 90 people (16.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 315 males, 309 females and 3 people of other genders in 213 dwellings.[16] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 132 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 96 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 294 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (17.2%) aged 65 or older.[2]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.3% European (Pākehā); 17.2% Māori; 7.2% Pasifika; 3.8% Asian; and 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori language by 3.3%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 5.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[2]
Religious affiliations were 27.8% Christian, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.2%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.[2]
Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (17.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 288 (58.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 111 (22.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 66 people (13.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 291 (58.8%) people were employed full-time, 60 (12.1%) were part-time, and 9 (1.8%) were unemployed.[2]
Onewhero statistical area
[edit]Onewhero statistical area, which also includes Te Kohanga, covers 385.08 km2 (148.68 sq mi)[17] and had an estimated population of 2,150 as of June 2025,[18] with a population density of 5.6 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,485 | — |
| 2013 | 1,869 | +3.34% |
| 2018 | 1,953 | +0.88% |
| 2023 | 2,097 | +1.43% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 205.40 km2. Source: [19]source=[20] | ||
Onewhero statistical area had a population of 2,097 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 144 people (7.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 228 people (12.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,080 males, 1,011 females and 3 people of other genders in 714 dwellings.[21] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 444 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 327 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,002 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 324 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.[20]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.8% European (Pākehā); 24.6% Māori; 5.3% Pasifika; 3.9% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori language by 6.4%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 6.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[20]
Religious affiliations were 28.2% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 1.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.8%, and 10.9% of people did not answer the census question.[20]
Of those at least 15 years old, 279 (16.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 939 (56.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 432 (26.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 189 people (11.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 933 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 225 (13.6%) were part-time, and 33 (2.0%) were unemployed.[20]
Education
[edit]The main school is Onewhero Area School, which serves from Years 1 to 13[22] with a roll of 395 as of March 2026.[23] The school first opened in 1891, and became a District High School in 1955.[24]
There is also a preschool for children under 5 years.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7011070, 7011072 and 7011073. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Mayor and councillors". Waikato District Council. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "Port Waikato - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Hauraki-Waikato – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
- ^ "Onewhero-Tuakau Community Board". www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
- ^ "Harker Reserve – Onewhero Local Pages". Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Council meeting agenda" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council. 15 December 2015.
- ^ "Te Wai Heke O Maoa – Vivian Falls – Onewhero Local Pages". Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Harker Reserve (Vivian Falls)". Google Maps. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Mullane, Kevin Joseph Chase (2015). "Geophysical characterisation of the Onewhero and Kellyville volcanic complexes, South Auckland Volcanic Field" (PDF). University of Waikato.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7011070, 7011072 and 7011073.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Onewhero (170100). 2018 Census place summary: Onewhero
- ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Onewhero (170101). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Onewhero Area School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ "School History". Onewhero Area School. Retrieved 10 March 2025.