Ōhope

Ōhope
Town
Ōhope from the air, looking West
Coordinates: 37°57′58″S 177°02′35″E / 37.966°S 177.043°E / -37.966; 177.043
Country	New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty
Territorial authority	Whakatāne District
Ward	Whakatāne-Ōhope General Ward
Community	Whakatāne-Ōhope Community
Electorates	East Coast Waiariki (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Whakatāne District Council
• Regional council	Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	6.33 km2 (2.44 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	3,250
• Density	510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Area code	07

Ōhope is a beach settlement situated on the northeast coast of New Zealand's North Island in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. It is six kilometres east of Whakatāne and is located between Ōhiwa Harbour to the south and Ōhope Beach to the north, providing views of both.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of [the] main body of an army" for Ōhope.^[3] On 10 October 1974, the name of the settlement was formally changed from Ohope Beach to Ohope.^[4] On 21 June 2019, the official name of the town was changed to Ōhope (with a macron) by the New Zealand Geographic Board.^[5]

Ōhope covers 6.33 km² (2.44 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 3,250 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 513 people per km².

Ōhope had a population of 3,177 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 330 people (11.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 324 people (11.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,350 households, comprising 1,545 males and 1,632 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 51.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 498 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 378 (11.9%) aged 15 to 29, 1,410 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 891 (28.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.6% European/Pākehā, 14.9% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 3.2% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 22.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.4% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 771 (28.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 366 (13.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 624 people (23.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,215 (45.4%) people were employed full-time, 438 (16.3%) were part-time, and 60 (2.2%) were unemployed.^[6]

Ōhope is a holiday destination during the New Zealand summer, with several kilometres of safe swimming beaches.^{[citation needed]} The western end of the beach is popular for surfing during the summer and Christmas period.^{[citation needed]}

Ōhope is home to the Ohope Beach Primary School, which has five classrooms.

• 
  Digging for tuatua on Ōhope Beach in summer
• 
  Ōhope from above

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ohope Beach.

• Coastal Reserves and Beaches, Whakatane District Council