Ōpaki
Ōpaki | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
Ōpaki school | |
Interactive map of Ōpaki | |
| Coordinates: 40°53′35″S 175°39′40″E / 40.893°S 175.661°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Masterton District |
| Ward |
|
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Masterton District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Masterton | Bex Johnson[1] |
| • Wairarapa MP | Mike Butterick[2] |
| • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 35.62 km2 (13.75 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 1,160 |
| • Density | 32.6/km2 (84.3/sq mi) |
Ōpaki is a small rural settlement in the Masterton District and Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island.
Opaki railway station is located at Ōpaki. The centre of the village was bypassed in 1938, when a bridge replaced the railway level crossing,[6] on what is now SH2.[7]
Demographics
Ōpaki statistical area covers 35.62 km2 (13.75 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 1,160 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 33 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 852 | — |
| 2013 | 957 | +1.67% |
| 2018 | 1,062 | +2.10% |
| 2023 | 1,146 | +1.53% |
| The 2006 population is for a larger area of 36.04 km2. Source: [8][9] | ||
Opaki had a population of 1,146 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (7.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 189 people (19.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 588 males, 549 females, and 6 people of other genders in 429 dwellings.[10] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 204 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 138 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 507 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 294 (25.7%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 95.5% European (Pākehā); 9.9% Māori; 1.3% Pasifika; 1.0% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.7%, Māori by 1.8%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 5.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Religious affiliations were 35.1% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 234 (24.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 534 (56.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 174 (18.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 168 people (17.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 471 (50.0%) full-time, 168 (17.8%) part-time, and 9 (1.0%) unemployed.[8]
Education
Ōpaki School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[11][12] with a roll of 171 as of March 2026.[13] School buses serve the neighbouring settlements of Rangitumau, Mauriceville and Mikimiki.[14] It opened in 1878.[15][16]
References
- ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ "Wairarapa - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "LOCAL AND GENERAL. WAIRARAPA DAILY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 March 1938. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Opaki, Wellington". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Opaki (255501). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Opaki (255500). 2018 Census place summary: Opaki
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Opaki School Official School Website". opaki.school.nz.
- ^ "Ōpaki School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Ōpaki School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Ōpaki School - Information Central". www.opaki.school.nz. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Education Board". New Zealand Times. 30 May 1878 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Opaki-Rangitumau Schools and districts' history : Opaki-Rangitumau 1878-1978". 1978 – via Auckland Libraries.