Okaiawa
Okaiawa | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Okaiawa | |
| Coordinates: 39°31′41″S 174°12′00″E / 39.528°S 174.200°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki Region |
| Territorial authority | South Taranaki District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Te Hāwera Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | South Taranaki District Council |
| • Regional council | Taranaki Regional Council |
| • Mayor of South Taranaki | Phil Nixon[1] |
| • Whanganui MP | Carl Bates[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 40.87 km2 (15.78 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 census)[4] | |
• Total | 427 |
| • Density | 10.4/km2 (27.1/sq mi) |
| Postcode | 4671 |
Okaiawa or Ōkaiawa is a rural community in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is located about 14 kilometres north-west of Hāwera, north of State Highway 45 and State Highway 3.[6] The settlement is located south-east of Mount Taranaki, close to Inaka River.[7]
According to the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Okaiawa translates as 'place of food'. Ō means 'place of'; kai means 'food'; and awa means 'river' or 'valley'.[6]
History
[edit]19th century
[edit]Frank Bremer, a Taranaki farmer originally from Adelaide, purchased a property in Okaiawa in 1890. His farm covered 284 acres of freehold land and 316 of leasehold land. He became a breeder of high-class draught horses which won several races, was president of the local racing club, and milked about 100 cows.[7]
In the 1880s, Thomas Joll established a chain of private dairy factories, based in Okaiawa.[8] He opened a creamery three kilometres from the settlement in 1894.[7] The chain became a cooperative when Joll died in 1908, and Joll was commemorated with a marble bust at the local park named in his honour.[8]
By 1908, the township had a hotel, a store, a butchery, and electricity. The farming community was growing, and the school roll was averaging about 92 children. A Māori Methodist minister was living in the township.[7]
20th century
[edit]Eleven local men died in World War I and dozens of others served in the war.[9] A roll of honour was unveiled at the school in 1919 for two ex-pupils who died and 39 other ex-pupils who served.[10] Another roll of honour was unveiled at the local St Aidan's Anglican Church the following year.[11] A memorial statue was unveiled at Joll Park on Anzac Day 1922 for the town's fallen soldiers.[9][12] An individual memorial was erected at Okaiawa Cemetery for Frank Williams, one of the men who died.[9]
By 1922, 198 students were enrolled in Okaiawa School. At an annual school picnic, parents were reminded to send their children to school "regularly" to keep attendance high.[12]
Three local men died in World War II, and 52 others served in the war. A memorial feature on a brick feature at the school pool was unveiled by Minister of Internal Affairs William Bodkin on 10 March 1952, listing all the men's names.[13]
Okaiawa School celebrated its 75th Jubilee in 1958.[14] By this stage, many students were travelling to Manaia High School for secondary education.[15]
21st century
[edit]The New Zealand Government proposed merging Okaiawa School with Manaia School in 2004.[16] Okaiawa School closed permanently in 2009.[9] The World War II plaque at the school was moved to a new wall of river stones at Okaiawa Cemetery in 2009.[13] The location of the school's World War I memorial is unknown.[9]
Demographics
[edit]Okaiawa locality covers 40.87 km2 (15.78 sq mi).[5] The locality is part of the larger Okaiawa statistical area.[17]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 441 | — |
| 2013 | 423 | −0.59% |
| 2018 | 411 | −0.57% |
| 2023 | 426 | +0.72% |
| Source: [4][18] | ||
Okaiawa had a population of 426 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (3.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3 people (0.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 216 males, 204 females, and 3 people of other genders in 162 dwellings.[19] 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 69 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 78 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 216 (50.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.[4]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.2% European (Pākehā), 23.2% Māori, 0.7% Pasifika, 2.8% Asian, and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.3%, Māori by 4.2%, and other languages by 2.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]
Religious affiliations were 31.7% Christian, 0.7% New Age, and 2.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.5%, and 12.0% of people did not answer the census question.[4]
Of those at least 15 years old, 36 (10.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 213 (59.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 108 (30.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 27 people (7.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 195 (54.6%) full-time, 57 (16.0%) part-time, and 12 (3.4%) unemployed.[4]
Okaiawa statistical area
[edit]Okaiawa statistical area, which also includes Ohawe, covers 102.14 km2 (39.44 sq mi)[20] and had an estimated population of 1,340 as of June 2025,[21] with a population density of 13 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,167 | — |
| 2013 | 1,134 | −0.41% |
| 2018 | 1,182 | +0.83% |
| 2023 | 1,248 | +1.09% |
| Source: [22][23] | ||
Okaiawa had a population of 1,248 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 66 people (5.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 114 people (10.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 645 males, 597 females, and 3 people of other genders in 465 dwellings.[24] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 264 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 201 (16.1%) aged 15 to 29, 591 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 192 (15.4%) aged 65 or older.[22]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.8% European (Pākehā); 24.5% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 5.5%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 3.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[22]
Religious affiliations were 33.4% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 1.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.6%, and 10.8% of people did not answer the census question.[22]
Of those at least 15 years old, 120 (12.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 594 (60.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 270 (27.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 93 people (9.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 546 (55.5%) full-time, 150 (15.2%) part-time, and 24 (2.4%) unemployed.[22]
Education
[edit]Okaiawa Public School was established in 1884. The original school house was built of wood and iron, with two classrooms, two porches, and a teachers' residence on site. The school could accommodate a roll of 120 children.[7] It closed and was merged to Matapu School at the beginning of 2005.[25][26]
References
[edit]- ^ "Declaration of Results of Election and Poll" (PDF). South Taranaki District Council. 17 October 2025.
- ^ "Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017444, 7017445 and 7017447. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Ōkaiawa". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts - Okaiawa. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company. 1908.
- ^ a b Lambert, Ron. "Ōkaiawa". Te Ara - Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ a b c d e Philips, Jock. "Okaiawa First World War memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ "Okaiawa". Hawera & Normanby Star. 2 October 1920.
- ^ "Okiawa: Fallen Soldiers' Memorial'". Hawera & Normanby Star. 30 November 1920. p. 4.
- ^ a b "Okaiawa". Hawera & Normanby Star. 14 February 1922.
- ^ a b Ringer, Bruce. "Okaiawa Second World War memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ Okaiawa School 75th Jubilee Souvenir Booklet. Hāwera: Okaiawa School 75th Jubilee Committee. 1958.
- ^ "Proud little school boasts of success". stuff.co.nz. Taranaki Daily News. 16 November 2013.
- ^ Mallard, Trevor (30 January 2004). "Proposal Announced For Taranaki Schools". scoop.co.nz. New Zealand Government.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017444, 7017445 and 7017447.
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Okaiawa (221100). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Okaiawa (221100). 2018 Census place summary: Okaiawa
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Mallard, Trevor (8 April 2004). "Final decisions for Taranaki schools". New Zealand Government.
- ^ Ministry of Education (November 2012). "School Closures in the Taranaki Region (since 1984)" (PDF).