Orua Bay | |
|---|---|
 East end of Orua Bay | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°03′00″S 174°36′36″E / 37.050°S 174.610°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland Region |
| Ward | Franklin ward |
| Community board | Franklin Local Board |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Auckland Council |
| • Mayor of Auckland | Wayne Brown |
| • Port Waikato MP | Andrew Bayly |
| • Hauraki-Waikato MP | Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.85 km2 (0.33 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 40 |
| • Density | 47/km2 (120/sq mi) |
Orua Bay is a rural settlement on the northern tip of the Āwhitu Peninsula and south coast of the Manukau Harbour in the Auckland Region of New Zealand.[3]
The name could mean 'place of a pit' in the Māori language,[4] but could be a contraction of 'Oruarua', 'place of two minds' or 'in doubt'.[5] The name became officially 'Ōrua Bay' in 2023.[6]
History
[edit]A Wesleyan Mission was opened by Reverend William Woon at Orua Bay in 1836, and the Church Missionary Society kept a station there from 1837 to 1844.[4]
The area was called Coulthard's Bay after an early settler until the earlier name of Orua Bay was restored in 1886.[5]
A primary school opened at Orua Bay in 1896[7] and closed in 1949 when rural schools in the area were consolidated to Awhitu District School.[8]
During the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, a landslide collapsed a bach and resulted in five other dwellings being evacuated. Three people were injured.[9]
Demographics
[edit]Statistics New Zealand describes Orua Bay as a rural settlement, which covers 0.85 km2 (0.33 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 40 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 9 people per km2. Orua Bay is part of the larger Āwhitu statistical area.[10]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 45 | — |
| 2018 | 36 | −4.36% |
| 2023 | 33 | −1.73% |
| Source: [11] | ||
Orua Bay had a population of 33 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−8.3%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 12 people (−26.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 15 males and 15 females in 15 dwellings.[12] The median age was 67.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 0 people (0.0%) aged under 15 years, 0 (0.0%) aged 15 to 29, 9 (27.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (63.6%) aged 65 or older.[11]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.8% European (Pākehā), 9.1% Māori, and 18.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]
Religious affiliations were 27.3% Christian, and 9.1% Buddhist. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 9.1% of people did not answer the census question.[11]
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (36.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 12 (36.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 12 (36.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $27,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 6 (18.2%) people were employed full-time and 3 (9.1%) were part-time.[11]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Harriss, Gavin (October 2024). Orua Bay, Auckland (Map). NZ Topo Map.
- ^ a b Discover New Zealand:A Wises Guide (9th ed.). 1994. p. 51.
- ^ a b "Ōrua Bay". Toitū te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "Notice of Approved Official Geographic Names in Auckland". NZ Gazette. 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Awitu". Auckland Star. 27 February 1896.
- ^ "12 September 1949". Auckland Libraries. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Orua Bay collapse: Hillside part of unstable sand dune area, councillor says". Radio New Zealand. 2 February 2023.
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Āwhitu
- ^ 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. Orua Bay (1428). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "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.