Opape
Coastal settlement in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Opape is a small coastal settlement in the Ōpōtiki District of the Bay of Plenty Region on New Zealand's North Island. It is 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Omarumutu
Opape | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
 Interactive map of Opape | |
| Coordinates: 37.976°S 177.423°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District |
| Ward | Waioeka-Waiōtahe-Otara Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Ōpōtiki | David Moore[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 13.74 km2 (5.31 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 243 |
| • Density | 17.7/km2 (45.8/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 3197 |
Opape is the eastern end of the traditional territory of the Whakatōhea Māori iwi.[6] When most of Whakatōhea's land was confiscated by the Crown in the 1860s, most of the iwi was crowded into the 20,300-acre Ōpape Native Reserve,[7][8] which included coastal Opape and inland hills.[9]
Demographics
Opape locality covers 13.74 km2 (5.31 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Ōtara-Tirohanga statistical area.[10]
Opape had a population of 243 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 75 people (44.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 87 people (55.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 117 males and 120 females in 69 dwellings.[12] The median age was 31.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 75 people (30.9%) aged under 15 years, 42 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 87 (35.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (17.3%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 29.6% European (Pākehā), 90.1% Māori, and 3.7% Pasifika. English was spoken by 96.3%, Māori by 30.9%, and other languages by 1.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 19.8% Christian, and 19.8% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.8%, and 2.5% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (8.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 99 (58.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 51 (30.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (5.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 66 (39.3%) full-time, 30 (17.9%) part-time, and 6 (3.6%) unemployed.[5]
Marae
Opape Marae and Muriwai meeting house is a traditional meeting place of the Whakatōhea hapū of Ngāi Tamahaua (Ngāi Tama).[6][13] In October 2020, the Government committed $744,574 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and two other Whakatōhea marae, creating 30 jobs.[14]