Otamarakau

{{short description|New Zealand beach and community}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox settlement   | name = Otamarakau | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | coordinates = {{coord|-37.835|176.608|region:NZ_type:city|display=it}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Bay of Plenty | subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority | subdivision_name2 = Western Bay of Plenty | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Maketu-Te Puke Ward | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = Western Bay of Plenty District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Bay of Plenty Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = East Coast MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|East Coast MP|y}} | leader_title4 = Waiariki MP | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waiariki MP|y}} | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|East Coast|Waiariki (Māori)}} | established_date = pre-European | established_title = | established_date1 = 19th Century | established_title1 = | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 19.64 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 27 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2023"/> | population_as_of = 2023 Census | population_total = 159 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = NZST | utc_offset = +12 | timezone_DST = NZDT | utc_offset_DST = +13 | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = 3186 | area_code = 07 | website = | image_skyline = Ōtamarākau Marae.jpg | image_caption = A modern wharekai overlooks the traditional wharenui at the Ōtamarākau marae. }}

'''Otamarakau''' ({{langx|mi|Ōtamarākau}}) is a beach and community in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, just south of Pukehina.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of young warriors" for ''Ōtamarākau''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names|title=1000 Māori place names|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, stormwater laden with sediment flowed over the Otamarakau wetlands from two ponds constructed without sufficient planning approval. In January 2020, kiwifruit company Bay Gold was fined over the incident.<ref name="freshplaza">{{cite news |title=Kiwifruit company Baygold convicted on environmental charges |url=https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9182838/kiwifruit-company-baygold-convicted-on-environmental-charges/ |agency=freshplaza.com |publisher=Fresh Plaza |date=23 January 2020}}</ref>

A speed camera was installed on the highway through Otamarakau in 2018,<ref name="gardiner">{{cite news |last1=Gardiner |first1=Sam |title=Speed camera on the way for Pukehina |url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/172824-speed-camera-on-way-pukehina.html |agency=Sun Live |publisher=Sun Media |date=9 February 2018}}</ref> leading to $30,000 of fines in its first month of operation.<ref name="shand">{{cite news |last1=Shand |first1=Matt |title=Speed camera ticks up $30,000 of fines in first month of operation |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107436270/dangerous-stretch-of-sh2-ticks-up-30000-of-fines-a-month |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=27 September 2018}}</ref>

==Marae== Ōtamarākau Marae and its Waitahanui a Hei meeting house are a traditional meeting place for the people of Ngāti Mākino.<ref name="tkmentry">{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}</ref><ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref> The modern waterfront wharekai designed by Aladina Harunani has accommodation and a full commercial kitchen. They host corporate meetings, Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings, Wananga, family reunions, noho marae, weddings, birthdays, camps, schools and more for local, national and international visitors.<ref name="rliddle">{{cite news |last1=Liddle |first1=Rosalie |title=Architecture connecting with tangata whenua |url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/183449-architecture-connecting-tangata-whenua.html |agency=Sun Live |publisher=Sun Media |date=4 July 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics== Otamarakau covers {{Convert|19.64|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=2 June 2025}}</ref> It is part of the larger Pongakawa statistical area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2006|147|2013|147|2018|156|2023|159|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7013827}}</ref>}} Otamarakau had a population of 159 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (1.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 12 people (8.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 87 males and 75 females in 48 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%2Bdo1.7013827.2023&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> 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 42 people (26.4%) aged under 15 years, 15 (9.4%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (50.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.2% European (Pākehā), 34.0% Māori, 3.8% Pasifika, 5.7% Asian, and 3.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 7.5%, and other languages by 3.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 7.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 30.2% Christian, 5.7% Māori religious beliefs, and 3.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.6%, and 3.8% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (17.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 69 (59.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24 (20.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $49,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (17.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 72 (61.5%) full-time and 12 (10.3%) part-time.<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.7013827.2013%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=7013827}}</ref>

==Education== Otāmarākau School is a co-educational state primary school for year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official1872">{{cite web |title=Otamarakau School Official School Website |url=http://www.otamarakau.school.nz/ |website=otamarakau.school.nz/}}</ref><ref name="moe1872">{{cite web |title=Otamarakau School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1872 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1872|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}<ref name="ero1872">{{cite web |title=Otamarakau School Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/1872/otamarakau-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}</ref> It opened in 1916.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/heart-of-community-100-years-old/WBUYLCTL6CFIUABAANKSHX26ZU/|title=Heart of community 100 years old|newspaper=Bay of Plenty Times|date=3 June 2016}}</ref>

The school's main annual fundraising event is a surf fishing competition.<ref name="surffishing">{{cite news |last1=Staff reporter |title=Te Puke's Quinn Boyle to swim Lake Taupo for cancelled school fundraiser |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=12318372 |agency=Bay of Plenty Times |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=23 March 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Western Bay of Plenty District Category:Beaches of the Bay of Plenty Region Category:Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region