Demographics
Ōwhata covers 5.84 km2 (2.25 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 6,930 as of June 2025, with a population density of 1,187 people per km2.
Historical population| Year | | |
|---|
| 2006 | 5,439 | — |
|---|
| 2013 | 5,493 | +0.14% |
|---|
| 2018 | 6,216 | +2.50% |
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| 2023 | 6,468 | +0.80% |
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The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 4.75 km2.
Source: |
Ōwhata had a population of 6,468 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 252 people (4.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 975 people (17.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,180 males, 3,261 females, and 27 people of other genders in 2,145 dwellings. 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,605 people (24.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,248 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,547 (39.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,068 (16.5%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 60.5% European (Pākehā); 48.0% Māori; 5.9% Pasifika; 9.3% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.1%, Māori by 16.1%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 9.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 29.1% Christian, 1.9% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 4.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.8%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 870 (17.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,724 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,272 (26.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 360 people (7.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,400 (49.4%) full-time, 654 (13.4%) part-time, and 198 (4.1%) unemployed.
Individual statistical areas
| Name | Area
(km2) | Population | Density
(per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median
income |
| Ōwhata West | 3.33 | 3,231 | 970 | 1,062 | 32.5 years | $40,500 |
| Ōwhata East | 2.51 | 3,240 | 1,291 | 1,086 | 36.1 years | $38,200 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Education
Ōwhata School, or Ōwata te Kura, is a primary school for year 1–6 students with a roll of 228. It opened in 1966.
Mokoia Intermediate is a state intermediate school, with a roll of 332. It offers education in complete or partial Māori language immersion, as well as in English.
Rotorua Lakes High School is a state secondary school, with a roll of 630. It opened in 1971.
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of July 2026.
Ōwhata
