Omakau

Demographics

Omakau is described as a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand. The urban area of Omakau (between Alton and Harvey streets) covers 0.38 km2 and had a population of 141 in the 2018 New Zealand census. The Statistics New Zealand description relates to a larger area including Ophir which covers 21.47 km2. This larger area had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the much larger Manuherikia-Ida Valleys statistical area.

Omakau and its surrounds had a population of 336 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (13.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 39 people (13.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 138 households, comprising 171 males and 165 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female, with 57 people (17.0%) aged under 15 years, 33 (9.8%) aged 15 to 29, 147 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 99 (29.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.1% European/Pākehā, 8.9% Māori, 0.9% Pasifika, 2.7% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 46.4% had no religion, 47.3% were Christian, 0.9% were Hindu and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (10.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 72 (25.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 24 people (8.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 132 (47.3%) people were employed full-time, 69 (24.7%) were part-time, and 3 (1.1%) were unemployed.

Manuherikia-Ida Valleys

The Manuherikia-Ida Valleys statistical area includes Omakau and covers 2511.47 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Manuherikia-Ida Valleys had a population of 1,119 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 99 people (9.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 159 people (16.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 441 households, comprising 594 males and 519 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.14 males per female. The median age was 43.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 219 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 132 (11.8%) aged 15 to 29, 564 (50.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 204 (18.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.3% European/Pākehā, 8.0% Māori, 0.5% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.7% had no religion, 37.3% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 0.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 162 (18.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 171 (19.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 90 people (10.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 519 (57.7%) people were employed full-time, 180 (20.0%) were part-time, and 9 (1.0%) were unemployed.

Education

Omakau School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of . The school opened in 1935, and is the only remaining one of 13 schools which at one point served the Manuherikia Valley area.

Climate

| Jan record high C = 35.2 | Feb record high C = 35.1 | Mar record high C = 31.6 | Apr record high C = 26.8 | May record high C = 24.5 | Jun record high C = 20.3 | Jul record high C = 18.0 | Aug record high C = 22.3 | Sep record high C = 25.4 | Oct record high C = 27.7 | Nov record high C = 31.0 | Dec record high C = 34.4 | year record high C = 35.2 | Jan avg record high C = 30.6 | Feb avg record high C = 30.1 | Mar avg record high C = 27.7 | Apr avg record high C = 23.3 | May avg record high C = 19.8 | Jun avg record high C = 16.2 | Jul avg record high C = 15.3 | Aug avg record high C = 17.4 | Sep avg record high C = 20.7 | Oct avg record high C = 23.9 | Nov avg record high C = 26.4 | Dec avg record high C = 28.8 | year avg record high C = 31.8 | Jan avg record low C = 0.4 | Feb avg record low C = 0.4 | Mar avg record low C = -2.1 | Apr avg record low C = -5.0 | May avg record low C = -6.9 | Jun avg record low C = -8.7 | Jul avg record low C = -9.0 | Aug avg record low C = -7.6 | Sep avg record low C = -5.9 | Oct avg record low C = -4.4 | Nov avg record low C = -2.7 | Dec avg record low C = 0.0 | year avg record low C = -9.8 |Jan record low C = -2.6 |Feb record low C = -2.1 |Mar record low C = -5.6 |Apr record low C = -8.0 |May record low C = -14.5 |Jun record low C = -16.5 |Jul record low C = -21.6 |Aug record low C = -12.8 |Sep record low C = -10.6 |Oct record low C = -6.9 |Nov record low C = -5.7 |Dec record low C = -4.1 |year record low C = -21.6 |access-date = 20 Jul 2024}}

References

References

1. "Ōmakau - Cultral Atlas".
2. (6 August 2019). "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
3. "Omakau". Central Otago Tourism.
4. "Omakau in Central Otago". Central Otago Tourism.
5. "ArcGIS Web Application".
6. {{NZ census 2018. 7027805 and 7027807
7. {{NZ census 2018. Manuherikia-Ida Valleys (345100). manuherikia-ida-valleys. Manuherikia-Ida Valleys
8. "Omakau School Official School Website".
9. "Omakau School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
10. "Omakau School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
11. van Kempen, Lynda. (25 January 2010). "Reunion honours schools". [[Otago Daily Times]].