Omaha, New Zealand facts for kids
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. 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.
Omaha, translated from Maori, means a '(place) of pleasure.'
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 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. As a result, The Omaha Shorebird Protection Trust was established in 2009 to monitor the dotterel population at Omaha. Fundraising of $162,000 by the Trust saw construction of a predator-proof fence completed in August 2012 helpging to protect the birds, their chicks and eggs from predation by cats, rats, stoats, wessels and hedgehogs.
Community
Omaha is the permanent home of over 200 families. Former Prime Minister and National Party leader John Key has owned property in Omaha for over 20 years. New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper also has a property at Omaha as does former television presenter Louise Wallace.
Omaha has a boat ramp, surf club, an 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, bowling club and children's playgrounds.
Images for kids
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Windswept Omaha beach in January
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Omaha shopping area
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Omaha welcome sign
