Onemana is a 1970s beach village on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand, with a beach, a surf club,[3] fire station[4] and dairy.[5] It lies 3 km (1.9 mi) to the east of State Highway 25,[6] south of Pauanui and north of Whangamatā. The Wharekawa River and Opoutere are just to the north and west.[7]

Onemana
Onemana village from the beach in 2021
Onemana village from the beach in 2021
Map
Coordinates: 37°09′06″S 175°52′39″E / 37.15177°S 175.87754°E / -37.15177; 175.87754
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
DistrictThames-Coromandel District
WardSouth Eastern ward
Community BoardWhangamatā Community
Electorates
Government
 • CouncilThames-Coromandel District Council
Area
 • Total
0.65 km2 (0.25 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
170
 • Density260/km2 (680/sq mi)
Whitipirorua Point and the south end of Onemana Beach in 2013

History

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The area was originally named Whitipirorua by Māori.[8] The first known settlers of the area were the Ngāti Hei. They were supplanted by Ngāti Hako in the mid 17th century, but Ngā Puhi raids during the Musket Wars of the early 19th century left the area without a permanent population.[9] By a variety of means the land was acquired by the government and sold to settlers.[10] Archaeological evidence suggests that the area was first settled in the 1300s, with a located at the south of Onemana Beach.[11] The area was important for the production of stone tools made of matā (chert) and matā tūhua (obsidian).[11]

The 364 section subdivision was created in the 1970s on the Bambury family's Shang-ri-la farm.[12] Much of the archaeological site was destroyed to make way for the subdivision.[11] The name Onemana was adopted for the subdivision, however the name has no traditional relationship with the area.[8]

Demographics

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Onemana is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.65 km2 (0.25 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 170 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 262 people per km2. Onemana is part of the larger Whangamatā Rural statistical area.[13]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006129—    
2013111−2.12%
2018153+6.63%
Source: [14]

Onemana had a population of 153 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (37.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 24 people (18.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 84 households, comprising 72 males and 81 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female. The median age was 63.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 18 people (11.8%) aged under 15 years, 9 (5.9%) aged 15 to 29, 57 (37.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 69 (45.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.2% European/Pākehā, 17.6% Māori, and 2.0% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.9% had no religion, and 37.3% were Christian.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (22.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 24 (17.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 18 people (13.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 39 (28.9%) people were employed full-time, 18 (13.3%) were part-time, and 3 (2.2%) were unemployed.[14]

The population can approach 3,000 during the summer peak.[15]

Infrastructure

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A 110 m (360 ft) deep groundwater bore into rhyolite provides water for the village,[16] which used 5,370,000 litres (1,180,000 imp gal; 1,420,000 US gal) in the peak 2 weeks of 2014/2015.[17] The sewage plant handles up to 196 m3 (43,000 imp gal) a day, which is disposed of to landfill.[18] Heavy overnight rain from Cyclone Wilma in March 2017 damaged 2 houses with slips and caused wastewater overflows.[19] Onemana sewage plant resource consent renewal was scheduled for 2019/2020.[20] Two accessible toilets, a shelter and community notice board were funded by the Tourism Infrastructure Fund in 2019.[21]

Surfing

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Onemana has several surfing peaks along the beach with both right and left handed breaks. The seabed is a mix of sand and rocky reef; and a stream discharges centrally to the bay. A right hand break is sometimes off the southern point through to the beach.[22]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Onemana Surf Lifesaving Club - Building Project". www.onemanaslsc.org.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. ^ "ONEMANA RURAL FIRE FORCE - STATION 79". www.111emergency.co.nz. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Onemana Dairy". Google maps. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Onemana New Zealand". Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Onemana, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b Furey, Louise (1990). "The Artefact Collection from Whitipirorua (T12/16), Coromandel Peninsula". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 27: 19–60. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906401. Wikidata Q58677384.
  9. ^ King, p. 128.
  10. ^ "The Hauraki report" (PDF). Waitangi Tribunal. 2006.
  11. ^ a b c Furey, Louise (1991). "Excavations at Whitipirorua, T12/16, Coromandel Peninsula". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 28: 1–32. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906412. Wikidata Q58677406.
  12. ^ "Our History – Onemana New Zealand". Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  13. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Whangamatā Rural
  14. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7010723.
  15. ^ "2016/17 Peak Population Report" (PDF). Thames-Coromandel District Council. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2021.
  16. ^ John Hadfield & Debbie Nicole (29 August 2000). "Community Groundwater Supply Source Protection" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council.
  17. ^ "Thames-Coromandel District Council - Water figures show a busier Coromandel east coast". www.tcdc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  18. ^ "New Zealand Wastewater Treatment Plant". 2018.
  19. ^ "Thames-Coromandel District Council - Storm causes wastewater overflows". www.tcdc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Thames-Coromandel District Council - Whangamata Ward Highlights". www.tcdc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Thames-Coromandel District Council - Works around the wards update". www.tcdc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  22. ^ Ed Atkin and Shaw Mead (June 2016). "Surf breaks of regional significance in the Waikato region" (PDF).