Ōhope
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Ōhope is a coastal town situated on the northeastern coast of the Eastern Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's North Island. It is six kilometres east of
Whakatāne Whakatāne ( , ) is a town located in the Bay of Plenty Region, Bay of Plenty Region in the North Island of New Zealand, east of Tauranga and northeast of Rotorua. The town is situated at the mouth of the Whakatāne River. The Whakatāne Dis ...
, and is located between Ōhiwa Harbour to the south and Ōhope Beach to the north, providing views of both.


Name

The New Zealand
Ministry for Culture and Heritage The Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH; ) is the department of the New Zealand Government responsible for supporting the Creative New Zealand, arts, Culture of New Zealand, culture, New Zealand Historic Places Trust, built heritage, Sport Ne ...
gives a translation of "place of hemain body of an army" for . On 10 October 1974, the name of the settlement was formally changed from Ohope Beach to Ohope. On 21 June 2019, the official name of the town was changed to Ōhope (with a macron) by the
New Zealand Geographic Board The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) is the authority over geographical and hydrographic names within New Zealand and its territorial waters. This includes the naming of small urban settlements, localities, mounta ...
.


Demographics

Ōhope covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Ōhope had a population of 3,177 at the
2018 New Zealand census The 2018 New Zealand census, which took place on Tuesday 6 March 2018, was the thirty-fourth national census in New Zealand. The population of New Zealand was counted as 4,699,755 – an increase of 457,707 (10.79%) over the 2013 census. Resu ...
, an increase of 330 people (11.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 324 people (11.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,350 households, comprising 1,545 males and 1,632 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 51.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 498 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 378 (11.9%) aged 15 to 29, 1,410 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 891 (28.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 89.6% European/
Pākehā ''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...
, 14.9% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 3.2% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.4% had no religion, 37.2% were
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 0.7% had
Māori religious beliefs Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
, 0.6% were
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
, 0.2% were
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
, 0.6% were
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and 0.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 771 (28.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 366 (13.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 624 people (23.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,215 (45.4%) people were employed full-time, 438 (16.3%) were part-time, and 60 (2.2%) were unemployed.


Tourism

Ōhope is a holiday destination during the New Zealand summer, with several kilometres of safe
swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, such as saltwater or freshwater environments, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Swimmers achieve locomotion by coordinating limb and body movements to achieve hydrody ...
beaches. The western end of the beach, commonly known as West End is popular for
surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suita ...
during the summer and Christmas period. Visitors can explore walking and cycling tracks, including the scenic Ōhope Scenic Reserve Track and Ōhope Harbourside Trail, which offers views of the coastline, native bush and Ōhiwa Harbour. Ōhope Beach has earned recognition as one of New Zealand's most cherished coastal destinations through various accolades over the years. In 2014, it was voted the country's most loved beach, securing nearly 100,000 of the over 600,000 votes cast in a social media campaign by the Automobile Association. More recently, in 2024, Ōhope Beach was honored as the best family beach for the third consecutive year in the New Zealand Herald's Best Beach competition. The beach also secured second place in the best camping beach category. Ōhope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, is a major attraction for both locals and visitors, especially during the summer months. The park offers a range of accommodations, including campgrounds, cabins, and powered sites.


Infrastructure


Education

Ōhope is home to the Ohope Beach Primary School, which has five classrooms and provides education for students from Years 1 to 6.


Transportation

The town is also serviced by public transport links via Baybus operated by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to nearby Whakatāne via the 122 bus route. Private cars, limited public transport and taxis (as well as cycling and walking) are the primary modes of transport for residents. Ōhope is primarily connected to Whakatāne through Ōhope Road, a two-lane route with passing lanes on the hill inclines. It is also linked to the south via the Pacific Coast Highway, providing access to Tāneatua and
Ōpōtiki Ōpōtiki (; from ''Ōpōtiki-Mai-Tawhiti'') is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. It houses the headquarters of the Ōpōtiki District Council, the mayor of Ōpōtiki and comes under the Bay of Plenty Region ...
.


Facilities

The town offers a range of amenities, including cafes, shops, and recreational facilities. To the east, facilities such as the Port Ōhope Wharf, Ōhope Library, Ōhope Fire Station, Ōhope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park and an aged care facility are present. Ōhope is the main venue for the Local Wild Food Festival, a celebration of local produce and unique culinary experiences. The festival, which draws food lovers from across the region, showcases a variety of wild and foraged foods, with a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly dining.


Gallery

image:Ohope Tua Tuas.JPG, Digging for tuatua on Ōhope Beach in summer image:Ohope overview.JPG, Ōhope from above


Climate


References


External links


Coastal Reserves and Beaches, Whakatane District Council
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ōhope Whakatāne District Beaches of the Bay of Plenty Region Tourist attractions in the Bay of Plenty Region Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region