Okaiawa | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Coordinates: 39°31′41″S 174°12′00″E / 39.528°S 174.200°E | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Taranaki Region |
Territorial authority | South Taranaki District |
Ward |
|
Community | Te Hāwera Community |
Electorates | |
Government | |
• Territorial Authority | South Taranaki District Council |
• Regional council | Taranaki Regional Council |
Postcode | 4671 |
Okaiawa or Ōkaiawa is a rural community in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is located about 14 kilometres north-west of Hāwera, north of State Highway 45 and State Highway 3.[1] The settlement is located south-east of Mount Taranaki, close to Inaka River.[2]
According to the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Okaiawa translates as place of food. Ō means "place of"; kai means "food"; and awa means "river or valley".[1]
History
[edit]19th century
[edit]Okaiawa Public School was established in 1884. The original school house was built of wood and iron, with two classrooms, two porches, and a teachers' residence on site. The school could accommodate a roll of 120 children.[2]
Frank Bremer, a Taranaki farmer originally from Adelaide, purchased a property in Okaiawa in 1890. His farm covered 284 acres of freehold land and 316 of leasehold land. He became a breeder of high-class draught horses which won several races, was president of the local racing club, and milked about 100 cows.[2]
In the 1880s, Thomas Joll established a chain of private dairy factories, based in Okaiawa.[3] He opened a creamery three kilometres from the settlement in 1894.[2] The chain became a cooperative when Joll died in 1908, and Joll was commemorated with a marble bust at the local park named in his honour.[3]
By 1908, the township had a hotel, a store, a butchery, and electricity. The farming community was growing, and the school roll was averaging about 92 children. A Māori Methodist minister was living in the township.[2]
20th century
[edit]Eleven local men died in World War I and dozens of others served in the war.[4] A roll of honour was unveiled at the school in 1919 for two ex-pupils who died and 39 other ex-pupils who served.[5] Another roll of honour was unveiled at the local St Aidan's Anglican Church the following year.[6] A memorial statue was unveiled at Joll Park on Anzac Day 1922 for the town's fallen soldiers.[4][7] An individual memorial was erected at Okaiawa Cemetery for Frank Williams, one of the men who died.[4]
By 1922, 198 students were enrolled in Okaiawa School. At an annual school picnic, parents were reminded to send their children to school "regularly" to keep attendance high.[7]
Three local men died in World War II, and 52 others served in the war. A memorial feature on a brick feature at the school pool was unveiled by Minister of Internal Affairs William Bodkin on 10 March 1952, listing all the men's names.[8]
Okaiawa School celebrated its 75th Jubilee in 1958.[9] By this stage, many students were travelling to Manaia High School for secondary education.[10]
21st century
[edit]The New Zealand Government proposed merging Okaiawa School with Manaia School in 2004.[11] Okaiawa School closed permanently in 2009.[4] The World War II plaque at the school was moved to a new wall of river stones at Okaiawa Cemetery in 2009.[8] The location of the school's World War I memorial is unknown.[4]
A woman was charged with arson and endangering life, after a suspicious house fire in Okaiawa in February 2021.[12]
Demographics
[edit]Okaiawa is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 28.57 km2 (11.03 sq mi).[13] The SA1 areas are part of the larger Okaiawa statistical area.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 333 | — |
2013 | 303 | −1.34% |
2018 | 306 | +0.20% |
Source: [14] |
The SA1 statistical areas had a population of 306 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (1.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 27 people (−8.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 123 households, comprising 165 males and 141 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female, with 69 people (22.5%) aged under 15 years, 51 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 156 (51.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (10.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 82.4% European/Pākehā, 30.4% Māori, 0.0% Pacific peoples, 2.9% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.0% had no religion, 35.3% were Christian, 2.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (8.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 66 (27.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 36 people (15.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 144 (60.8%) people were employed full-time, 36 (15.2%) were part-time, and 12 (5.1%) were unemployed.[14]
Okaiawa statistical area
[edit]Okaiawa statistical area, which also includes Ohawe, covers 102.14 km2 (39.44 sq mi)[13] and had an estimated population of 1,300 as of June 2023,[15] with a population density of 13 people per km2.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 1,167 | — |
2013 | 1,134 | −0.41% |
2018 | 1,182 | +0.83% |
Source: [16] |
Okaiawa statistical area had a population of 1,182 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 15 people (1.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 450 households, comprising 615 males and 567 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 38.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 282 people (23.9%) aged under 15 years, 168 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 597 (50.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 135 (11.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 86.8% European/Pākehā, 21.3% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.8% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 8.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.0% had no religion, 39.6% were Christian, 1.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (10.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 216 (24.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 174 people (19.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 486 (54.0%) people were employed full-time, 162 (18.0%) were part-time, and 33 (3.7%) were unemployed.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ōkaiawa". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts - Okaiawa. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company. 1908.
- ^ a b Lambert, Ron. "Ōkaiawa". Te Ara - Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ a b c d e Philips, Jock. "Okaiawa First World War memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ "Okaiawa". Hawera & Normanby Star. 2 October 1920.
- ^ "Okiawa: Fallen Soldiers' Memorial'". Hawera & Normanby Star. 30 November 1920. p. 4.
- ^ a b "Okaiawa". Hawera & Normanby Star. 14 February 1922.
- ^ a b Ringer, Bruce. "Okaiawa Second World War memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ Okaiawa School 75th Jubilee Souvenir Booklet. Hāwera: Okaiawa School 75th Jubilee Committee. 1958.
- ^ "Proud little school boasts of success". stuff.co.nz. Taranaki Daily News. 16 November 2013.
- ^ Mallard, Trevor (30 January 2004). "Proposal Announced For Taranaki Schools". scoop.co.nz. New Zealand Government.
- ^ Shaskey, Tara (23 February 2021). "Woman faces raft of charges following house fire in north Taranaki". stuff.co.nz. Taranaki Daily News.
- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017444 and 7017447.
- ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Okaiawa (221100). 2018 Census place summary: Okaiawa