Ōhura

Ōhura is a small town in the west of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the west of Taumarunui in the area known as the King Country, in inland Manawatū-Whanganui. It lies on the banks of the Mangaroa Stream, a tributary of the Ōhura River which is a tributary of the Whanganui River.

Ōhura
Town
Part of the Ōhura township
Part of the Ōhura township
Coordinates: 38°50′35″S 174°58′55″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictRuapehu District
Ward
  • Ruapehu General Ward
  • Ruapehu Māori Ward
CommunityTaumarunui-Ōhura Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityRuapehu District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total3.25 km2 (1.25 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total120
 • Density37/km2 (96/sq mi)

Background

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place which is uncovered" for Ōhura.[3] In July 2020, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Ōhura by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[4]

Ōhura was the centre for coal mining in the region,[5] operating through to circa 1965, where previously the mines, railway network and farming had been major parts of the local industry.

A proud piece of the town is the Ohura Museum which provides a repository for much of the history of Ōhura and the surrounding area.

Te Rukirangi Marae and Papakainga meeting house is located in Ōhura.[6] It is the tribal meeting ground of the Ngāti Maniapoto hapū of Te Rukirangi.[7]

Demographics

Ōhura is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 3.25 km2 (1.25 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 120 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 37 people per km2. It is part of the wider Otangiwai-Ohura statistical area.[1]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006162—    
2013129−3.20%
2018126−0.47%
Source: [8]

Ōhura had a population of 126 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−2.3%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 36 people (−22.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 66 households, comprising 78 males and 51 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.53 males per female. The median age was 59.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 12 people (9.5%) aged under 15 years, 12 (9.5%) aged 15 to 29, 60 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (33.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.5% European/Pākehā, 21.4% Māori, and 2.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.6% had no religion, 31.0% were Christian and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (7.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 39 (34.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $19,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3 people (2.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 36 (31.6%) people were employed full-time, and 15 (13.2%) were part-time.[8]

Otangiwai-Ohura statistical area

Otangiwai-Ohura statistical area covers 2,011.70 km2 (776.72 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,040 as of June 2022,[9] with a population density of 1 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,233—    
20131,086−1.80%
20181,020−1.25%
Source: [10]

Otangiwai-Ohura had a population of 1,020 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 66 people (−6.1%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 213 people (−17.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 423 households, comprising 546 males and 477 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.14 males per female. The median age was 43.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 204 people (20.0%) aged under 15 years, 153 (15.0%) aged 15 to 29, 519 (50.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 144 (14.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 84.4% European/Pākehā, 30.3% Māori, 1.5% Pacific peoples, 1.8% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.5% had no religion, 29.7% were Christian, 2.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 78 (9.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 204 (25.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 84 people (10.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 453 (55.5%) people were employed full-time, 138 (16.9%) were part-time, and 30 (3.7%) were unemployed.[10]

Education

Ohura Valley Primary is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[11] with a roll of 4 as of April 2023.[12] The school opened in 1908 providing both primary and secondary education. It became a primary school only at the beginning of 1999.[13]

Notable people

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  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. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. "Notice of approved official geographic names" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  5. Cairns, John (2013). Coal in my blood. ISBN 9780473229290.
  6. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  7. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  8. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017557.
  9. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  10. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Otangiwai-Ohura (222300). 2018 Census place summary: Otangiwai-Ohura
  11. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  12. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  13. "Ohura Valley Primary School". Ohura Valley Primary. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  14. Cooke, Ron (2013). Roll back the years No 6. Taumarunui & Districts historical Society Inc. p. 849. ISBN 978-0-9582984-5-2.
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