Ōmāpere

Ōmāpere
View of the Hokianga Harbour mouth from State Highway 12 above Ōmāpere
Coordinates: 35°31′59″S 173°23′20″E / 35.533°S 173.389°E / -35.533; 173.389
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland Region
District	Far North District
Ward	Kaikohe/Hokianga
Electorates	Northland Te Tai Tokerau
Government
• Territorial Authority	Far North District Council
• Regional council	Northland Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	12.91 km2 (4.98 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	450
• Density	35/km2 (90/sq mi)

Ōmāpere is a settlement on the south shore of Hokianga Harbour in Northland, New Zealand.^[3] State Highway 12 runs through Ōmāpere. Opononi is on the shore to the north of Ōmāpere.^[4]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of cutty grass" for Ōmāpere.^[5]

The first European settler in the Ōmāpere area was John Martin, who arrived in the Hokianga Harbour in 1827. In 1832 Martin purchased land on the flat area, along the beach at Ōmāpere. In 1838 Martin extended his land purchase to the Hokianga Harbour's South Head, where he established a signal station to guide ships crossing the challenging harbour entrance. The signal station remained in operation until 1951.

With permission from Ngāti Korokoro, the local hapū (sub-tribe), in 1838 John Whiteley established a Wesleyan mission at Pākanae on land purchased with blankets, tools and tobacco.^[6][7]

In 1869, a bush licence was granted to Charles Bryers at Ōmāpere. In the mid 1870s, a liquor licence was then given to the establishment called the 'Heads'. This later became the 'Travellers Rest'. By 1876 the farm of John Martin had become the township of Pakia. It was home to a hotel, two stores, several houses and a school house. The name Ōmāpere began to be used more frequently and became Ōmāpere by residents agreement in 1874. By the latter 19th century, Ōmāpere became an important location for the kauri gum digging trade.^[8]

Waiwhatawhata or Aotea Marae and Te Kaiwaha meeting house are affiliated to Ngāti Korokoro and Ngāti Whārara.^[9]

Statistics New Zealand describes Ōmāpere as a rural settlement. It covers 12.91 km² (4.98 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 450 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 35 people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Waipoua Forest statistical area.^[10]

Ōmāpere had a population of 426 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (17.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 33 people (8.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 180 households, comprising 192 males and 234 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.82 males per female, with 93 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 60 (14.1%) aged 15 to 29, 150 (35.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (28.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 52.1% European/Pākehā, 63.4% Māori, 4.2% Pacific peoples, and 2.1% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 40.1% had no religion, 46.5% were Christian, 4.2% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.7% were Hindu.

Of those at least 15 years old, 51 (15.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 69 (20.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 27 people (8.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 81 (24.3%) people were employed full-time, 75 (22.5%) were part-time, and 21 (6.3%) were unemployed.^[11]

Media related to Omapere at Wikimedia Commons

• Clover, Gary A. M. (2018). Collision, Compromise and Conversion During the Wesleyan Hokianga Mission, 1827–1855. Nelson: The Copy Press. ISBN 978-0-473-44050-3.
• Turton, H. Hanson (1882). Maori Deeds of Old Private Land Purchases in New Zealand, From the Year 1815 to 1840, with Pre-Emptive and Other Claims. Wellington: George Didsbury, Government Printer.