Onerahi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Onerahi
|
|
|---|---|
|
Suburb
|
|
Aerial view of Onerahi, showing Whangārei Airport
|
|
 Onerahi
Location in New Zealand
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Whangārei |
| Electoral ward | Whangārei Urban Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 560 ha (1,380 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
|
|
| • Total | 6,910 |
| Airport(s) | Whangārei Airport |
  Onerahi  |
||
Onerahi is a lovely seaside suburb in Whangārei, New Zealand. It's special because it's the only suburb in Whangārei right by the sea! You can find Onerahi about 9 kilometers (about 5.6 miles) south-east of the main city center. It's mostly a peninsula, which is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides, sticking out into the Whangārei Harbour. This harbor then flows out into the big Pacific Ocean.
The name Onerahi comes from the Māori language. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage says it means "long beach." However, the name also connects to an old Māori story about two sisters, Reipae and Reitū. The word "rahirahi" means "overhearing." The story says that Reipae landed here after she overheard her sister Reitū and their hawk talking about marrying a chief named Ueoneone all by themselves.
A major part of Onerahi is the Whangārei Airport. It's built on a large flat area at the southern end of the suburb. This flat land was created using soil from an old pā site, which was a fortified Māori village or fortress, located just north of the airport.
Around the airport and along the coast, there are two main roads that form circles. The upper road goes around the airport, and the lower road follows the beautiful coastline. Onerahi is connected to the rest of Whangārei by the Onerahi Causeway, which is like a bridge or raised road over water.
Near Onerahi in the harbor is an island called Motu Matakohe, also known as Limestone Island. People are working hard to restore its natural environment and bring back native plants and animals. If you want to get around Onerahi, you can use the local bus service. The Citylink route 2 bus connects the suburb to Whangārei City via Riverside Drive.
Contents
History of Onerahi
The land that is now Onerahi was bought in the mid-1860s. Two people, Henry Walton and William Smellie Graham, bought it from a Māori chief named Te Tirarau. At first, this area was called Kaiwaka Point. But after they bought it, they changed its name to Grahamtown.
Later, in 1912, the name was changed again to Onerahi. This was done to avoid confusion with another place called Grahamstown on the Coromandel Peninsula. The name Onerahi comes from Māori words: one means "beach," and rahi means "long and wide."
Onerahi's Railway and Airport
From 1911 to 1933, Onerahi had its own branch line railway. This railway was connected to the main North Auckland Line. It was built to help transport goods to and from a wharf in Onerahi, which was important for coastal shipping. However, when shipping by sea became less common in the 1930s, the railway was closed down. Today, part of the old railway path is used as a walking track, which is a great way to explore the area.
The Whangārei Airport was first opened in May 1939. It started as a training base for the RNZAF, which is the Royal New Zealand Air Force. After World War II, it was changed to be used by regular people. Commercial flights, meaning flights for passengers and goods, started in 1947. Since then, the airport has been serving the Whangārei District, helping people travel to and from the area.
Education in Onerahi
Onerahi has two schools that help young people learn and grow.
Onerahi Primary School
Onerahi Primary School is a school for younger students, from Year 1 to Year 6. This means it teaches children from about 5 to 10 or 11 years old. The school first opened its doors in 1893, so it has a long history of teaching children in the area. It is a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend.
Raurimu Avenue School
Raurimu Avenue School is a full primary school. This means it teaches students from Year 1 all the way up to Year 8. So, children from about 5 to 12 or 13 years old can go to this school. Like Onerahi Primary, Raurimu Avenue School is also coeducational, welcoming both boys and girls.
Sports and Activities
Onerahi is a great place for sports! The Onerahi Central Cricket Club is a popular local sports group. In 2006, they celebrated their 50th anniversary, which is a big milestone! To mark the occasion, they played a special cricket game. It was a re-run of their very first game, and they played against Whangārei Boys' High School. They even picked the best players from both teams to make it an exciting match.
Images for kids
-
Aerial view of Onerahi, showing Whangārei Airport
-
View of Onerahi Wharf around 1912
-
Onerahi Yacht Club
