Onerahi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Onerahi |
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Aerial view of Onerahi, showing Whangarei Airport
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| Basic information | |
| Local authority | Whangārei |
| Electoral ward | Okara Ward |
| Land area | 560 ha (2.2 sq mi)* |
| Coordinates | 35°46′S 174°22′E / 35.767°S 174.367°E |
| Population | 6870 (June 2022) |
| Facilities | |
| Airport(s) | Whangarei Airport |
| Surrounds | |
| East | Parua Bay |
| Southeast | (Whangārei Harbour) |
| South | (Whangārei Harbour) |
| Southwest | (Whangārei Harbour) |
| Northwest | Whangārei |
Onerahi, for half a century known as Grahamtown, is a seaside suburb of Whangārei, New Zealand's northernmost city. It is the city's only seaside suburb. It is located 9 km south-east of the centre of Whangārei and is principally a peninsula in the Whangārei Harbour, which empties into the Pacific Ocean.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "long beach" for Onerahi.
The suburb's main feature is Whangarei Airport, located on the large flat area at the southern end of the suburb, which was built up using material from the site of a former Māori pā (fortress) just to the north.
There are two concentric roads around the seaward plateau; the upper one surrounds the airport, and the lower follows the coast. The suburb is connected to Whangarei via the Onerahi Causeway.
Close to the suburb in the harbour is Motu Matakohe or Limestone Island, now being managed to restore its ecosystems.
Contents
History
The land for the town was purchased by Henry Walton and William Smellie Graham from Te Tirarau in the mid-1860s. It was then called Kaiwaka Point, but they renamed it Grahamtown. In 1912 it was renamed again to Onerahi to prevent a conflict with Grahamstown in the Coromandel.
From 1911 to 1933, Onerahi was also served by a branch line railway from the North Auckland Line known as the Onerahi Branch. It was built to provide access to a wharf in Onerahi, and when coastal shipping declined severely in the 1930s, the railway was closed. Part of its formation has been retained as a walking track.
Whangarei Airport was established in May 1939 as a RNZAF training base. It was later converted to civilian use with commercial flights commencing in 1947, and has served the Whangarei District since.
Demographics
Onerahi covers 5.60 km2 (2.16 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 6870 as of June 2022, with a population density of 1227 people per km2.
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 5,742 | — |
| 2013 | 5,790 | +0.12% |
| 2018 | 6,498 | +2.33% |
Onerahi had a population of 6,498 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 708 people (12.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 756 people (13.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,433 households, comprising 3,063 males and 3,438 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female, with 1,344 people (20.7%) aged under 15 years, 1,164 (17.9%) aged 15 to 29, 2,631 (40.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,353 (20.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 76.3% European/Pākehā, 30.1% Māori, 4.2% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 18.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.9% had no religion, 34.9% were Christian, 3.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 834 (16.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,032 (20.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 546 people (10.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,253 (43.7%) people were employed full-time, 705 (13.7%) were part-time, and 273 (5.3%) were unemployed.
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Households | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onerahi Park | 2.00 | 1,584 | 792 | 633 | 43.7 years | $26,500 |
| Sherwood Rise | 1.31 | 2,457 | 1,876 | 912 | 37.5 years | $23,800 |
| Onerahi | 2.29 | 2,457 | 1.073 | 888 | 40.5 years | $28,300 |
| New Zealand | 37.4 years | $31,800 |
Sport
The Onerahi Central Cricket Club celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2006, highlighted by a re-run of their first game against Whangarei Boys' High School with best-of selections.
Education
Onerahi Primary School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 433 as of April 2023. The school was established in 1893.
Raurimu Avenue School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 46 as of April 2023.
Both schools are coeducational.
Images for kids
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View.of Onerahi Wharf circa 1912
