Omata is a locality in Taranaki, in the western

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45 just southwest of

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

. Omata and Western New Plymouth are adjacent to the

Tapuae Marine Reserve Tapuae Marine Reserve is a marine reserve created in 2008 off the Taranaki coast of New Zealand. It protects an area of 1404 ha and adjoins the Sugar Loaf Islands The Sugar Loaf Islands (often Sugarloaf; mi, Ngā Motu, ) are a collection of f ...

. The area was the site of the Omata Stockade, built to house soldiers during tensions at the time of the First Taranaki War in 1860–61, and is near the site of the Battle of Waireka on 28 March 1860. The stockade, designed and constructed by local settlers, was built on the site of Ngāturi Pā. In August 1860, most of Omata village was burnt down during the war. Troops were stationed at the stockade until 1866, and it was demolished by farmers and the remains auctioned off in late 1867.

Demographics

The Omata statistical area covers . It had a population of 939 at the

2018 New Zealand census Eighteen or 18 may refer to: * 18 (number), the natural number following 17 and preceding 19 * one of the years 18 BC, AD 18, 1918, 2018 Film, television and entertainment * ''18'' (film), a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film based on the sho ...

, an increase of 102 people (12.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 168 people (21.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 330 households. There were 468 males and 468 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 46.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 180 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 126 (13.4%) aged 15 to 29, 498 (53.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 132 (14.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 94.9% European/Pākehā, 7.7% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.9% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). The proportion of people born overseas was 13.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 55.0% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 159 (20.9%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 102 (13.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 408 (53.8%) people were employed full-time, 144 (19.0%) were part-time, and 21 (2.8%) were unemployed.

Education

Omata School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of students as of In 2003, the school celebrated its 150th jubilee.

Omata electorate

Omata Omata is a locality in Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45 just southwest of New Plymouth. Omata and Western New Plymouth are adjacent to the Tapuae Marine Reserve. The area was the site of ...

was an electorate for the

New Zealand House of Representatives The House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the New Zealand Parliament. The House passes Law of New Zealand, laws, provides Ministers of the New Zealand Government, ministers to form Cabinet of New Zealand, Cabinet, and supervises the ...

from 1853 to 1870. Seven Members of Parliament represented the electorate in the 1st to 4th Parliament.

References

{{New Plymouth District Populated places in Taranaki New Plymouth District