Ōwhata
Suburb of Rotorua, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ōwhata is a semi-rural suburb of Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island.
Ōwhata | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Ōwhata | |
| Coordinates: 38.134°S 176.296°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Rotorua |
| Local authority | Rotorua Lakes Council |
| Electoral ward | Te Ipu Wai Auraki General Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 584 ha (1,440 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 6,930 |
| • Density | 1,190/km2 (3,070/sq mi) |
| (Lake Rotorua) | Holdens Bay | |
| (Ōwhatiura Bay) |
  Ōwhata  |
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| Ngāpuna | Lynmore |
In 2015, it had the highest house sales of any suburb in Rotorua.[3]
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of the elevated stage" for Ōwhata.[4]
Marae
The local Ōwhata or Hinemoa Marae and is a meeting place for the Ngāti Whakaue hapū of Ngāti Korouateka and Ngāti te Roro o te Rangi.[5] It includes the Tūtanekai meeting house.[6]
In October 2020, the Government committed $4,525,104 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and nine others, creating an estimated 34 jobs.[7]
Demographics
Ōwhata covers 5.84 km2 (2.25 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 6,930 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,187 people per km2.
Ōwhata had a population of 6,468 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 252 people (4.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 975 people (17.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,180 males, 3,261 females, and 27 people of other genders in 2,145 dwellings.[10] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,605 people (24.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,248 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,547 (39.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,068 (16.5%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 60.5% European (Pākehā); 48.0% Māori; 5.9% Pasifika; 9.3% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.1%, Māori by 16.1%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 9.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Religious affiliations were 29.1% Christian, 1.9% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 4.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.8%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 870 (17.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,724 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,272 (26.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 360 people (7.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,400 (49.4%) full-time, 654 (13.4%) part-time, and 198 (4.1%) unemployed.[8]
Education
Ōwhata School, or Ōwata te Kura, is a primary school for year 1–6 students[13][14] with a roll of 257.[15] It opened in 1966.[16]
Mokoia Intermediate is a state intermediate school,[17][18] with a roll of 315. It offers education in complete or partial Māori language immersion, as well as in English.[19]
Rotorua Lakes High School is a state secondary school,[20][21] with a roll of 674.[22] It opened in 1971.[23]
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of October 2025.[24]