Omanu
Suburb of Tauranga, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Omanu is a beach and suburb in Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
Omanu | |
|---|---|
Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club building and beach | |
 Interactive map of Omanu | |
| Coordinates: 37.659757°S 176.214844°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Tauranga |
| Local authority | Tauranga City Council |
| Electoral ward | Mauao/Mount Maunganui General Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 102 ha (250 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 3,020 |
| • Density | 2,960/km2 (7,670/sq mi) |
| Mount Maunganui | (Bay of Plenty) | |
  Omanu  |
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| Matapihi | Arataki |
The long, sandy beach is accessible via several public walkways through the dunes. It is a popular place to swim, surf and walk,[3] and hosts surf lifesaving competitions.[4] Tauranga City Council monitors erosion at the beach regularly and replenishes sand every year.[5]
A surf lifesaving club was established at Omanu in 1947 to patrol the beach. The club also patrolled Papamoa Beach until a new club was established there in 1990.[6] It is now the largest surf club in Bay of Plenty,[3] and has the largest children's nippers programme in New Zealand.[6] A new club house was completed in June 2006.[6]
Between July 2014 and December 2015, Omanu recorded the most burglaries of any suburb in Tauranga. Police say many of the thieves are opportunists.[7]
Demographics
Omanu Beach covers 1.02 km2 (0.39 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,020 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 2,961 people per km2. Omanu Beach is considered a component part of Mount Maunganui by Stats NZ.[8]
Omanu Beach had a population of 2,982 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (2.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 363 people (13.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,407 males, 1,566 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,107 dwellings.[11] 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 639 people (21.4%) aged under 15 years, 492 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,329 (44.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 519 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.[9]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.6% European (Pākehā); 13.3% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 3.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 0.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori by 1.7%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 8.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. 20.0% of people were born overseas, compared with 28.8% nationally.[9]
Religious affiliations were 25.7% Christian, 0.1% Hindu, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.0%, and 5.9% of people did not answer the census question.[9]
Of those at least 15 years old, 780 (33.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,122 (47.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 441 (18.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $47,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 393 people (16.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,194 (51.0%) full-time, 408 (17.4%) part-time, and 54 (2.3%) unemployed.[9]
Education
Omanu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[12][13] with a roll of 533 as of October 2025.[14][15] The school opened in 1955.[16]
Mount Maunganui College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,[17] established in 1957,[18] with a roll of 1,653.[19]