Otamarakau


Otamarakau is a beach and community in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, just south of Pukehina.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of young warriors" for Ōtamarākau.
In 2018, stormwater laden with sediment flowed over the Otamarakau wetlands from two ponds constructed without sufficient planning approval. In January 2020, kiwifruit company Bay Gold was fined over the incident.
A speed camera was installed on the highway through Otamarakau in 2018, leading to $30,000 of fines in its first month of operation.

Marae

Ōtamarākau Marae and its Waitahanui a Hei meeting house are a traditional meeting place for the people of Ngāti Mākino. The modern waterfront wharekai designed by Aladina Harunani has accommodation and a full commercial kitchen. They host corporate meetings, Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings, Wananga, family reunions, noho marae, weddings, birthdays, camps, schools and more for local, national and international visitors.

Demographics

Otamarakau covers. It is part of the larger Pongakawa statistical area.
Otamarakau had a population of 159 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 12 people since the 2013 census. There were 87 males and 75 females in 48 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.9 years. There were 42 people aged under 15 years, 15 aged 15 to 29, 81 aged 30 to 64, and 21 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.2% European, 34.0% Māori, 3.8% Pasifika, 5.7% Asian, and 3.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 7.5%, and other languages by 3.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.2% Christian, 5.7% Māori religious beliefs, and 3.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.6%, and 3.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 21 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 69 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $49,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 72 full-time and 12 part-time.

Education

Otāmarākau School is a co-educational state primary school for year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of It opened in 1916.
The school's main annual fundraising event is a surf fishing competition.