Onewhero

Onewhero
School and Community hall
Coordinates: 37°19′S 174°55′E / 37.317°S 174.917°E / -37.317; 174.917
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato
District	Waikato District
Ward	Onewhero-Te Akau Ward
Community	Onewhero-Tuakau Community
Electorates	Port Waikato Hauraki-Waikato
Government
• Territorial Authority	Waikato District Council
• Regional council	Waikato Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	21.85 km2 (8.44 sq mi)
Population  (2018 Census)[2]
• Total	552
• Density	25/km2 (65/sq mi)

Onewhero is a village and rural community in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

Pukekohe and Tuakau are located north of Onewhero, across the Waikato River;

The name Onewhero translates from Maori as "Red Earth", which describes the soil colour typical in the Franklin region.^[3]

The Onewhero village consists of an Anglican church, school, fire station, garage, lawn bowls club and tennis club. The Onewhero Society of Performing Arts runs a local performing arts theatre, and the local rugby club hosts community events and community board meetings.^[4] The Onewhero Golf Club is located in nearby Pukekawa.

The local Te Awamaarahi marae is a meeting ground for the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Āmaru, Ngāti Pou and Ngāti Tiipa.^[5] It includes the wharenui (meeting house) of Whare Wōnanga.^[6]

North of Onewhero, Harker Reserve^[7] has 12 m (39 ft) (or 20m)^[8] high Te Wai Heke O Maoa, or Vivian Falls, and a 3 km (1.9 mi) bush walkway.^[9] It is near the end of Miller Rd.^[10] The waterfall goes over the edge of South Auckland volcanic field's Onewhero maar crater, falling onto Miocene aged Carter Siltstone.^[11]

Onewhero is in three SA1 statistical areas which cover 21.85 km² (8.44 sq mi).^[1] The SA1 areas are part of the larger Onewhero statistical area.

The SA1 areas had a population of 552 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (2.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 27 people (5.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 201 households, comprising 285 males and 270 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female, with 108 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 72 (13.0%) aged 15 to 29, 288 (52.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 87 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.5% European/Pākehā, 13.0% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 3.3% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.2% had no religion, 29.9% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 84 (18.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 84 (18.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 111 people (25.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 252 (56.8%) people were employed full-time, 78 (17.6%) were part-time, and 6 (1.4%) were unemployed.^[2]

Onewhero statistical area covers 385.08 km² (148.68 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 2,210 as of June 2024,^[12] with a population density of 5.7 people per km².

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 205.40 km² (79.31 sq mi).^[1] Using that boundary, Onewhero statistical area had a population of 1,605 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (4.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 120 people (8.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 552 households, comprising 822 males and 783 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 40.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 357 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 243 (15.1%) aged 15 to 29, 813 (50.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 189 (11.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.4% European/Pākehā, 21.5% Māori, 3.7% Pacific peoples, 4.3% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.4% had no religion, 30.5% were Christian, 1.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 216 (17.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 234 (18.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 261 people (20.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 738 (59.1%) people were employed full-time, 186 (14.9%) were part-time, and 42 (3.4%) were unemployed.^[13]

The main school is Onewhero Area School, which serves from Years 1 to 13.^[14] with a roll of 428 as of August 2024.^[15] There is also a preschool for children under 5 years.

• Onewhero local directory