{{short description|Beach and settlement in New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox settlement | name = Otama Beach | image_skyline = Otama Beach.jpg | image_caption = Otama Beach | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = [[Waikato]] | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = [[Thames-Coromandel District]] | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Mercury Bay ward | subdivision_type4 = Community Board | subdivision_name4 = Mercury Bay Community | leader_title = Council | leader_name = [[Thames-Coromandel District Council]] | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = [[Waikato Regional Council]] | leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Thames-Coromandel]] | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Thames-Coromandel District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Coromandel MP|y}} | leader_title4 = [[Hauraki-Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato MP]] | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}} | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|[[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel]]|[[Hauraki-Waikato]] (Māori)}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | coordinates = {{coord|-36.707|175.764|region:NZ|display=it}} }} '''Otama Beach''' is a [[beach]] and settlement on the northeast coast of the [[Coromandel Peninsula]], [[New Zealand]], 20&nbsp;km north of [[Whitianga]].<ref>{{cite map|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz9036/Otama-Beach/Waikato|title=Otama Beach, Waikato|publisher=NZ Topo Map|first=Gavin|last=Harriss|date=October 2024}}</ref>

The north-facing 2&nbsp;km long white-sand beach is backed by a large protected natural dune system, separating it from the road and farm land beyond. Access is via Black Jack Road, starting from [[State Highway 25 (New Zealand)|State Highway 25]] at [[Kūaotunu]], which is sealed up to the start of Otama Beach. It continues as a gravel road further east towards Opito Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://allaboutwhitianga.co.nz/visitor-information/explore/otama|title=Otama|publisher=All About Whitianga|access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref>

Otama Beach is almost completely undeveloped, with only a small number of houses, mostly holiday homes, dotted around the hills behind the eastern end of the beach. The white sand squeaks when walked on, and the beach is a very good swimming beach, occasionally with good conditions for surfing. The rolling dunes and the wetland nature reserve behind it are protected, containing delicate [[flora]] such as the rare sand tussock ''[[Poa triodioides]]'' (syn. ''Austrofestuca littoralis''), and nesting areas of the endangered [[New Zealand plover|New Zealand dotterel]].<ref>[http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/waikato%20cms/appendicies1-2.pdf "Waikato Conservation Management Strategies Appendix 1, page 188"], Department of Conservation</ref>

==Demographics== Otama Beach is in an SA1 statistical area which covers {{Convert|45.92|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref> east of {{NZlSH|25}}, and includes [[Opito Bay]]. The SA1 area is part of the larger [[Te Rerenga#Demographics|Mercury Bay North statistical area]].<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|mercury-bay-north|Mercury Bay North}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2013|111|2018|129|2023|159|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical populations for Otama Beach and surrounds|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/>}} [[File:Waves lapping on Otama Beach.jpg|thumb|Waves on the Otama Beach]] The SA1 statistical area had a population of 159 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 30 people (23.3%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 48 people (43.2%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 87 males and 72 females in 75 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=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_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7032347.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 3.8% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 59.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 15 people (9.4%) aged under 15 years, 9 (5.7%) aged 15 to 29, 66 (41.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (41.5%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 98.1% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]), 7.5% [[Māori people|Māori]], and 3.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, and other languages by 7.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 24.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

The only religious affiliation given was 28.3% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]]. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 64.2%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (29.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 81 (56.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 27 (18.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $25,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 18 people (12.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 39 (27.1%) people were employed full-time, 33 (22.9%) were part-time, and 3 (2.1%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=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_012&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.7032347.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=7032347}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Thames-Coromandel District}}

[[Category:Thames-Coromandel District]] [[Category:Beaches of Waikato]] [[Category:Populated places in Waikato]]