Ōmaha
Locality in Auckland Region, New Zealand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ōmaha is a small beach town on Ōmaha Bay in the Auckland Region, in the north of New Zealand. It is located 74.7 km north of central Auckland.[3] It is on a sandspit that adjoins Tāwharanui Peninsula and separates Whangateau Harbour from Ōmaha Bay. The nearest sizeable town is Warkworth which is situated 16.8 km south west of Ōmaha.[3]
Ōmaha | |
|---|---|
 Ōmaha Beach in mid-summer | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 36.335°S 174.780°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland Region |
| Ward | Rodney ward |
| Community board | Rodney Local Board |
| Subdivision | Warkworth subdivision |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Auckland Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.85 km2 (1.87 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2023)[2] | |
| • Total | 800 |
| • Density | 160/km2 (430/sq mi) |
Ōmaha was a Marutūāhu settlement until 1841, when it was bought by the Crown. Early European settlement took place at Sandspit.[citation needed]
The Māori name Ōmaha means 'bountiful food' or 'great resources'. Nearby Leigh was historically named Ōmaha by Māori, and Ōmaha Beach was called Mangatawhiri by Ngāti Manuhiri.[4]
Omaha saw growth during the 1970s when a bridge to Ōmaha was constructed by Broadlands Properties, who then subdivided the land and built housing.[5]
To prevent erosion a wooden barrier was constructed. Despite these efforts on the 19th of July, 1978 a strong storm destroyed the barrier and caused damage to several beach front properties. To solve the issue of erosion and flooding with high tides three groynes were constructed to divert currents from Ōmaha. Alongside these groynes the harbour would be dredged with sand taken to the beach.[5]
Following the work to protect the foreshore more building permits were permitted; however, most came with a caveat requiring them to be raised slightly above the ground.[5]
The sandspit of Ōmaha was formed during the last glacial period, approximately 5000 to 6000 years BP. The beach sediment composition is over 70% quartz sand, which gifted Ōmaha 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.[citation needed]
Ōmaha Spit has also been identified by the Department of Conservation as a "significant breeding site for the endangered New Zealand dotterel.[6] As a result, The Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust was established in 2009 to monitor the dotterel population at Ōmaha.[7] 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.[8]
In the early 1980s the population less than 100. By the start of the 1990s it had increased to 300.[5]
Statistics New Zealand describes Ōmaha 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. Ōmaha is part of the larger Tawharanui Peninsula statistical area.[9]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 420 | — |
| 2013 | 621 | +5.75% |
| 2018 | 756 | +4.01% |
| Source: [10] | ||
Ōmaha 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.[10]
Former Prime Minister and National Party leader John Key has owned property in Ōmaha for over 20 years.[11] New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper also has a property at Ōmaha, as does former television presenter Louise Wallace.[12]
Ōmaha has a boat ramp,[13] surf club,[14] an 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, bowling club and children's playgrounds.[15]
From 2018 it has been served by 7 buses a day to Warkworth.[16]
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