Omaha, New Zealand

Omaha is a small beach town on Omaha Bay in the Rodney District, in the north of New Zealand. It is located 74.7 km north of Auckland.[3] It is on a sandspit that adjoins Tawharanui Peninsula and separates Whangateau Harbour from Omaha Bay. The nearest sizable town is Warkworth which is situated 16.8 km south west of Omaha.[3]

Omaha
Omaha Beach in mid-summer
Coordinates: 36.335°S 174.780°E / -36.335; 174.780
CountryNew Zealand
RegionAuckland Region
WardRodney ward
Community boardRodney Local Board
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityAuckland Council
Area
[1]
 • Total4.85 km2 (1.87 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total800
 • Density160/km2 (430/sq mi)

History

Omaha was a Marutūāhu settlement until 1841, when it was bought by the Crown. Early European settlement took place at Sandspit.

Omaha means 'bountiful food' or 'great resources' in Māori. Nearby Leigh was historically named Omaha by Māori, and Omaha Beach was called Mangatawhiri by Ngāti Manuhiri.[4]

Geography

The sandspit of Omaha was formed during the last glacial period, approximately 5000 to 6000 years BP. The beach sediment composition is over 70% quartz sand, which gifted Omaha the natural "white" appearance. There are three artificial groynes had been placed at northern part of the sandspit, to accumulate sediment from longshore drift. Local council in last two decades had been placing various groups of plant to stabilize the dunes, including Spinifex, pingao, iceplant and marram grass.

Omaha Spit has also been identified by the Department of Conservation as a "significant breeding site for the endangered New Zealand dotterel.[5] As a result, The Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust was established in 2009 to monitor the dotterel population at Omaha.[6] Fundraising of $162,000 by the Trust saw construction of a predator-proof fence completed in August 2012 helping to protect the birds, their chicks and eggs from predation by cats, rats, stoats, wessels and hedgehogs.[7]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Omaha as a rural settlement, which covers 4.85 km2 (1.87 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 800 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 165 people per km2. Omaha is part of the larger Tawharanui Peninsula statistical area.[8]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006420—    
2013621+5.75%
2018756+4.01%
Source: [9]
Windswept Omaha beach in January
Omaha beach
Omaha shopping area
Omaha welcome sign

Omaha had a population of 756 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 135 people (21.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 336 people (80.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 321 households, comprising 372 males and 384 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 111 people (14.7%) aged under 15 years, 57 (7.5%) aged 15 to 29, 345 (45.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 243 (32.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 96.0% European/Pākehā, 6.7% Māori, 2.4% Pacific peoples, 1.2% Asian, and 0.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.6% had no religion, 39.3% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu and 0.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 144 (22.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 69 (10.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 162 people (25.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 234 (36.3%) people were employed full-time, 108 (16.7%) were part-time, and 6 (0.9%) were unemployed.[9]

Community

Former Prime Minister and National Party leader John Key has owned property in Omaha for over 20 years.[10] New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper also has a property at Omaha as does former television presenter Louise Wallace.[11]

Omaha has a boat ramp,[12] surf club,[13] an 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, bowling club and children's playgrounds.[14]

From 2018 it has been served by 7 buses a day to Warkworth.[15]

See also

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  2. "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. "Google Maps". Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  4. "First names hold history and whakapapa for Ngāti Manuhiri". Local Matters. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  5. "Department of Conservation, New Zealand". Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  6. "Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust". Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  7. "Rodney Times | Predator-proof fence nearly finished". Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  8. 2018 Census place summary: Tawharanui Peninsula
  9. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7001243–7001247.
  10. "Rodney Times". 17 June 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  11. Taylor, Cliff (30 December 2007). "Revealed: the holiday hideout of NZ's rich and famous". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  12. "Auckland District Council". Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  13. "Omaha Surf Club". Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  14. "Omaha Beach Community Inc". Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  15. "Warkworth Kowhai Coast Northern Bus Timetable" (PDF). 30 September 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
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