Otawa

Otawa statistical area covers 152.28 km² (58.80 sq mi) north, west and southwest of Te Puke.^[4] It had an estimated population of 2,390 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 16 people per km².

Otawa had a population of 2,130 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 147 people (7.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 354 people (19.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,101 males, 1,023 females, and 9 people of other genders in 693 dwellings.^[11] 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 411 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 360 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 993 (46.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 366 (17.2%) aged 65 or older.^[9]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.3% European (Pākehā); 18.0% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 6.2% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.9%, Māori by 3.9%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 10.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[9]

Religious affiliations were 26.3% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 1.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 4.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.6%, and 9.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[9]

Of those at least 15 years old, 285 (16.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,038 (60.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 396 (23.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 228 people (13.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 927 (53.9%) full-time, 285 (16.6%) part-time, and 51 (3.0%) unemployed.^[9]