Onaero
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Onaero is a settlement in northern Taranaki, on the shore of the North Taranaki Bight, in the North Island of New Zealand. Waitara is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the west and Motunui a little closer, and Urenui is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the east. State Highway 3 runs past Onaero.
The No. 2 Company Redoubt was a British military installation created at Onaero in 1865 during the Second Taranaki War by soldiers from the Tikorangi Redoubt. It was abandoned several months later.
Demographics
Onaero Beach is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, which covers 0.15 km2 (0.058 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 70 as of June 2025, with a population density of 467 people per km2. It is part of the larger Tikorangi statistical area, which covers 167.79 km2 (64.78 sq mi).
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 75 | — |
| 2013 | 78 | +0.56% |
| 2018 | 75 | −0.78% |
| 2023 | 75 | +0.00% |
| Source: |
Ōnaero Beach had a population of 75 in the 2023 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 3 people (−3.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 33 males and 39 females in 39 dwellings. The median age was 61.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3 people (4.0%) aged under 15 years, 6 (8.0%) aged 15 to 29, 42 (56.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (32.0%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.0% European (Pākehā), and 8.0% Māori. English was spoken by 100.0%, and other languages by 12.0%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 4.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.
The only religious affiliation given was 32.0% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.0%, and 16.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (20.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 39 (54.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 12 (16.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $43,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (12.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 27 (37.5%) full-time, 9 (12.5%) part-time, and 6 (8.3%) unemployed.
Notes
Further reading
General history
- While not a published work, the papers of Dick Purdie Jonas (held at Puke Ariki in New Plymouth) provide a wealth of historical, archaeological, and anthropological information about this region. See . Archived from on 14 October 2008.
Environment and geology
- Bristow, Margaret (1978). Onaero-Mohikatino (i.e. Mohakatino) survey (Report). Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission.
- 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.
- Jardine, Edward Handforth (1981). Water and land use: part I, Tikorangi-Motunui district: part II, Onaero Catchment (Report). Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission.
Maori
- . Archived from on 14 October 2008.
Maps
- 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 . Archived from on 14 October 2008. This is held at Puke Ariki in New Plymouth.