Ōmokoroa

Ōmokoroa is a small urban area in the Western Bay of Plenty District of New Zealand. The suburb is considered part of Greater Tauranga (contributing towards its population of 161,300), and is within the Coromandel electorate.^[3] Ōmokoroa began as a small rural holiday village, but is expanding to be a commuter town, with a 25-minute drive to Tauranga City.

Ōmokoroa
The sun setting at the Ōmokoroa wharf
Coordinates: 37°40′00″S 176°01′58″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty
Territorial authority	Western Bay of Plenty District
Ward	Kaimai
Community	Omokoroa Community
Electorates	Coromandel Waiariki (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Western Bay of Plenty District Council
• Regional council	Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	5.24 km2 (2.02 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	5,990
• Density	1,100/km2 (3,000/sq mi)

Ōmokoroa urban area had a population of 3210 as of 2018, and is designated as an area of special housing growth. With the rural area to the south, it is expected to reach a population of 12,000 by 2020–2030, and is situated within the Kaimai Ward, Western Bay of Plenty. Ōmokoroa includes the urban area on the harbour side of State Highway 2, along with Youngson Road to Plummers Point Road, and parts of Old Highway Road.

Demographics

Ōmokoroa covers 5.24 km² (2.02 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 5,990 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 1,143 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,968	—
2013	2,334	+2.47%
2018	3,210	+6.58%
Source: [4]

Before the 2023 census, Ōmokoroa statistical area corresponded to the more built-up northern part of the peninsula, separated from the more rural area to the south by the East Coast Main Trunk. The statistical area covered 3.77 km² (1.46 sq mi)^[1] and had a population of 3,210 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 876 people (37.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,242 people (63.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,314 households, comprising 1,533 males and 1,677 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female. The median age was 58.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 507 people (15.8%) aged under 15 years, 237 (7.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,182 (36.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,287 (40.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.0% European/Pākehā, 7.3% Māori, 0.8% Pacific peoples, 2.0% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 24.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.3% had no religion, 42.9% were Christian, 0.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 567 (21.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 453 (16.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 453 people (16.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 903 (33.4%) people were employed full-time, 369 (13.7%) were part-time, and 51 (1.9%) were unemployed.^[4]

Rural surrounds

Ōmokoroa Rural statistical area, which was merged into other areas for the 2023 census, included the area between State Highway 2 and the East Coast Main Trunk, overlapping with the current Ōmokoroa urban area, and also included Plummers Point. It covered 7.91 km² (3.05 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,520 as of June 2022,^[5] with a population density of 192 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	696	—
2013	639	−1.21%
2018	744	+3.09%
Source: [6]

Ōmokoroa Rural had a population of 744 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (16.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 48 people (6.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 279 households, comprising 357 males and 384 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female. The median age was 48.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 132 people (17.7%) aged under 15 years, 114 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 345 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 150 (20.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.1% European/Pākehā, 10.9% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 1.2% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.0% had no religion, 36.3% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 120 (19.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 78 (12.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 114 people (18.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 276 (45.1%) people were employed full-time, 141 (23.0%) were part-time, and 12 (2.0%) were unemployed.^[6]

Communication

The sun setting over Ōmokoroa

The postcodes for the area are:

• 3114 – Railway line to harbour edge
• 3172 – Railway line towards SH2 ^[7]

The dialing prefix(es) for the town are

• (+64) 7 548

Education

Omokoroa No.1 School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[8][9] with a roll of 327 as of March 2025.^[10]

Omokoroa Point School is another co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[11] with a roll of 339.^[12]

The nearest zoned secondary schools in the area are Otumoetai College, Tauranga Boys' College and Tauranga Girls' College. Katikati College and the private Bethlehem College are also nearby.^[13]

37°40′S 176°02′E