Oropi

Oropi is a rural settlement located in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres south of Tauranga and 43 kilometres north of Rotorua.

Oropi
Otanewainuku Reserve
Coordinates: 37.839°S 176.158°E / -37.839; 176.158
Country	New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty
Territorial authority	Western Bay of Plenty
Ward	Kaimai
Electorates	Rotorua Waiariki (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Western Bay of Plenty District Council
• Regional council	Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Area
• Total	4.33 km2 (1.67 sq mi)
Population  (2018 Census)
• Total	225
• Density	52/km2 (130/sq mi)

Oropi is mainly a farming community of both agriculture and horticulture ranging from kiwifruit orchards to dairy farms. Recently there has been some subdivision of farms into lifestyle blocks to take advantage of views of the coastline towards the Coromandel Peninsula and islands in the Bay of Plenty including Karewa Island, Mayor Island (Tuhua) and Mōtītī Island.

Local facilities include a 9-hole golf course, hot pools, a paintball course and mountain bike tracks. The Oropi Memorial Hall and Community Centre includes a 170 square metre auditorium. The nearby Otanewainuku Forest, managed by the Department of Conservation, includes three short public walks.

Etymology

It has been suggested that the word Oropi is the Māori language equivalent of Europe. This is derived from the 1860s when government forces were based in the area at the time of the Battle of Gate Pā. However, the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of covering up" for Ōropi.

Demographics

Oropi is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 4.33 km² (1.67 sq mi). The SA1 area is part of the Waiorohi statistical area.

Historical population for Oropi

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	162	—
2013	165	+0.26%
2018	225	+6.40%
Source:

The SA1 area had a population of 225 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (36.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 63 people (38.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 75 households, comprising 108 males and 120 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female. The median age was 43.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 36 people (16.0%) aged under 15 years, 39 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 123 (54.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (12.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.3% European/Pākehā, 12.0% Māori, 1.3% Pacific peoples, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 64.0% had no religion, and 28.0% were Christian.

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (17.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 27 (14.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 33 people (17.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 105 (55.6%) people were employed full-time, 39 (20.6%) were part-time, and 3 (1.6%) were unemployed.

Waiorohi statistical area

Waiorohi statistical area covers 152.66 km² (58.94 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 3,070 as of June 2024, with a population density of 20 people per km².

Historical population for Waiorohi

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,953	—
2013	2,190	+1.65%
2018	2,520	+2.85%
Source:

Whataroa Falls

Waiorohi had a population of 2,520 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 330 people (15.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 567 people (29.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 825 households, comprising 1,254 males and 1,266 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 42.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 492 people (19.5%) aged under 15 years, 468 (18.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,260 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 300 (11.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.2% European/Pākehā, 15.1% Māori, 1.1% Pacific peoples, 1.9% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.2% had no religion, 28.9% were Christian, 1.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 396 (19.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 309 (15.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 384 people (18.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,104 (54.4%) people were employed full-time, 387 (19.1%) were part-time, and 48 (2.4%) were unemployed.

Education

Oropi School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 330 as of August 2024.

The school has a community garden and has converted a donated shipping container into an outdoor kitchen with a hand-painted forest mural on the outer wall.