Otangarei

Otangarei covers 1.04 km² (0.40 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,290 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 2,202 people per km².

Otangarei had a population of 2,109 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 474 people (29.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 30 people (−1.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 585 households, comprising 1,071 males and 1,044 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 28.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 624 people (29.6%) aged under 15 years, 465 (22.0%) aged 15 to 29, 813 (38.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (10.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 30.2% European/Pākehā, 78.4% Māori, 11.1% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 5.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 44.4% had no religion, 32.6% were Christian, 14.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.1% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (3.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 462 (31.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $17,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 30 people (2.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 435 (29.3%) people were employed full-time, 189 (12.7%) were part-time, and 177 (11.9%) were unemployed.[7]

Te Kura o Otangarei is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 1[8] and 85 students as of April 2023.[9] It opened in 1955 as Otangarei Primary School and opened its full immersion Māori language unit in 1996. It expanded to include year 7 and 8 students in 2004, and adopted its current name in 2006.[10] The school offers a choice between full immersion Māori language classes, bilingual classes or mainstream education.[11]

As of 2018, there are also adult education classes in Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Marae and Waiata on a weekly basis for both the Otangarei and wider communities held at Te Puawaitanga Marae by Shaquille Shortland.