Ōpaki
Rural locality in Wellington Region, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ōpaki is a small rural settlement in the Masterton District and Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island.
Ōpaki | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
 Ōpaki school | |
 Interactive map of Ōpaki | |
| Coordinates: 40.893°S 175.661°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Masterton District |
| Ward |
|
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Masterton District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Masterton | Bex Johnson[1] |
| • Wairarapa MP | Mike Butterick[2] |
| • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 35.62 km2 (13.75 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 1,160 |
| • Density | 32.6/km2 (84.3/sq mi) |
Opaki railway station is located at Ōpaki. The centre of the village was bypassed in 1938, when a bridge replaced the railway level crossing,[6] on what is now SH2.[7]
Demographics
Ōpaki statistical area covers 35.62 km2 (13.75 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 1,160 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 33 people per km2.
Opaki had a population of 1,146 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (7.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 189 people (19.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 588 males, 549 females, and 6 people of other genders in 429 dwellings.[10] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 204 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 138 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 507 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 294 (25.7%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 95.5% European (Pākehā); 9.9% Māori; 1.3% Pasifika; 1.0% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.7%, Māori by 1.8%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 5.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Religious affiliations were 35.1% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 234 (24.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 534 (56.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 174 (18.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 168 people (17.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 471 (50.0%) full-time, 168 (17.8%) part-time, and 9 (1.0%) unemployed.[8]