Onaero is a settlement in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3 close to the shore of the North Taranaki Bight, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of Waitara.[3] Onaero was the site of the No. 2 Company Redoubt, a British military installation created during the Second Taranaki War by soldiers from the Tikorangi Redoubt in 1865, however it was abandoned several months later.[4]
Demographics
Onaero Beach is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.15 km2 (0.058 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 70 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 467 people per km2. It is part of the wider Tikorangi statistical area,[5] which covers 167.79 km2 (64.78 sq mi).[1]
Onaero had a population of 75 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−3.8%) since the 2013 census, and unchanged since the 2006 census. There were 39 households, comprising 39 males and 36 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 57.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6 people (8.0%) aged under 15 years, 6 (8.0%) aged 15 to 29, 39 (52.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (28.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.0% European/Pākehā, 16.0% Māori, and 4.0% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.0% had no religion, and 36.0% were Christian.
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (26.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 6 (8.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 12 people (17.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 33 (47.8%) people were employed full-time, and 15 (21.7%) were part-time.[6]
Further reading
General historical works
Whilst strictly not an historical work (in the sense of being a published book/monograph), the papers of Dick Purdie Jonas (held at "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth) provide a wealth of historical, archaeological, and anthropological information about this region. See "Jonas, Dick Purdie (ARC2002-166)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
Jardine, Edward Handforth (1981). Water and land use: part I, Tikorangi-Motunui district: part II, Onaero Catchment (Report). Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission.
Geology
Hayward, Bruce W. (1981). Biostratigraphy of Onaero-1 onshore well (Report). Lower Hutt, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Geological Survey, Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research.
For a 1969 map of the scenic reserves within north Taranaki (including the Onaero River, whose estuary forms the setting for the community and its beach resort) see "ARC2005-436 Scenic Reserves". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2008. . This is held at "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth.
SW - locality that was formerly part of the defunct South-West Ward until 2022; NPC - locality that was formerly part of the defunct New Plymouth City Ward until 2022; nonCB - area not within a community board