Ōpaki
Locality
Coordinates40.893°S 175.661°E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWellington Region
Territorial authorityMasterton District
Ward
  • Masterton/Whakaoriori General Ward
  • Masterton/Whakaoriori Māori Ward
Electorates
Territorial AuthorityMasterton District Council
Regional councilGreater Wellington Regional Council
Area total35.62 km²

Ōpaki is a small rural settlement in the Masterton District and Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island.

Opaki railway station is located at Ōpaki. The centre of the village was bypassed in 1938, when a bridge replaced the railway level crossing,[1] on what is now SH2.[2]

Demographics

Ōpaki statistical area covers 35.62 km2 (13.75 sq mi).[3] It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of /35.62 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2006852—
2013957+12.3%
20181,062+11.0%
20231,146+7.9%

The 2006 population is for a larger area of 36.04 km2.

Opaki had a population of 1,146 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (7.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 189 people (19.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 588 males, 549 females, and 6 people of other genders in 429 dwellings.[4] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 204 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 138 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 507 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 294 (25.7%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 95.5% European (Pākehā); 9.9% Māori; 1.3% Pasifika; 1.0% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.7%, Māori by 1.8%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 5.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 35.1% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 234 (24.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 534 (56.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 174 (18.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 168 people (17.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 471 (50.0%) full-time, 168 (17.8%) part-time, and 9 (1.0%) unemployed.[5]

Education

Ōpaki School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[6][7] with a roll of as of .[8] School buses serve the neighbouring settlements of Rangitumau, Mauriceville and Mikimiki.[9] It opened in 1878.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ "LOCAL AND GENERAL. WAIRARAPA DAILY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 Mar 1938. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  2. ^ "Opaki, Wellington". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  3. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  4. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.255501.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "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.
  5. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.255501.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Opaki (255501). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Opaki School Official School Website". opaki.school.nz
  7. ^ "Ōpaki School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education
  8. ^ "Ōpaki School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office
  9. ^ "Ōpaki School - Information Central". www.opaki.school.nz. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  10. ^ "Education Board". New Zealand Times. 30 May 1878. – via Papers Past
  11. ^ "Opaki-Rangitumau Schools and districts' history : Opaki-Rangitumau 1878-1978". 1978. – via Auckland Libraries