Omarumutu is a community in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, located near the mouth of the Waiaua River.^[3] The area includes large tracts of Māori freehold land.^[3] Neighbouring localities are Opape, on the coast 2 km (1.2 mi) to the east, and Waiaua, 2 km (1.2 mi) inland.

Demographics

Omarumutu is in an SA1 statistical area, which also includes Waiaua, and covers 14.23 km² (5.49 sq mi).^[1] The SA1 area is part of the Otara-Tirohanga statistical area.

The SA1 area had a population of 153 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 30 people (−16.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 24 people (−13.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 66 households, comprising 72 males and 78 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female. The median age was 47.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 21 (13.7%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (52.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (19.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 64.7% European/Pākehā, 45.1% Māori, 2.0% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.0% had no religion, 37.3% were Christian, and 3.9% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (11.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 33 (25.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 24 people (18.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 66 (51.2%) people were employed full-time, 18 (14.0%) were part-time, and 6 (4.7%) were unemployed.^[2]

Marae

Ōmarumutu Marae features the Tūtāmure meeting house, named after the ancestral chief of Ngāti Ruatākena, who overcame Ngāti Kahungunu on the Māhia Peninsula. Tūtāmure's original fortifications are still visible; the nearby Makeo peak was one of his strongholds.^[6] The house was opened in 1901.^[7]

Omarumutu War Memorial Hall, located on the marae, was opened by Minister of Māori Affairs Ralph Hanan on 18 March 1961. Bishop Wiremu Panapa and Reverend Rangi Ehu unveiled a memorial tablet inside, presented to Ngāti Ruatākena and Whakatōhea by members of the Māori Battalion, to commemorate both Māori and Pākehā who died during the Boer War, World War I and World War II. Pine Taiapa oversaw the creation of the carvings, tukutuku and kōwhaiwhai that decorate the hall.^[7] The artwork is promoted as some of the best Māori artwork in the country and is a tourist drawcard, open the public when tangihanga or other functions are not being held.^[8][6]

A memorial cenotaph on the marae, a white column on a concrete base and funeral urn, was initially unveiled with the names of eight local men who died during wars. The names of a further eight who died during World War II and the Vietnam War were added in 1978. A granite memorial stone, also on a concrete base, lists the name of a further four men who died during World War II.^[9]

In October 2020, the Government committed $61,944 from the Provincial Growth Fund to renovate the war memorial, toilets and cooking shed, creating an estimated 8 jobs.^[10]

Education

Omarumutu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[11] with a roll of 92 as of April 2023.^[12]

References