Ohariu, New Zealand

In the 19th century, Ohariu was divided into Country Sections by the New Zealand Company. Many were sold to absentee owners, and there were only three resident settlers in 1854: James Smith, James Hallett and James Holder. Later settlers from the 1860s were James Bryant and his sons of Huia Farm, Thomas Bassett of Willow Bank, Charles Austin, George Best, and George Beech. Initially farms ran sheep and beef cattle. Access was by tracks from Awarua Street (Ngaio), Khandallah and Johnsonville; from the 1860s by the Old Coach Road, and in 1908 via Ironside Road to Johnsonville. From 1916 there was a dairying invasion which lasted fifty years, because of a better return than from sheep. It began when Frank Nossiter bought Alf Kirby's 100 acre (41 ha) sheep farm, and moved 25 cows from Fielding to his Catewell Farm. He was joined by a dozen more dairy farmers. Ohariu Valley has an article from 1896 in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. ==Demographics==

Ohariu covers . It is part of the Mākara-Ohariu statistical area. Ohariu had a population of 414 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (1.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 54 people (15.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 198 males, 213 females, and 3 people of other genders in 144 dwellings. 3.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 66 people (15.9%) aged under 15 years, 78 (18.8%) aged 15 to 29, 225 (54.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 54 (13.0%) aged 65 or older. Mākara-Ohariu statistical area Mākara-Ohariu statistical area covers , and includes Mākara and Mākara Beach. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Mākara-Ohariu had a population of 978 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (3.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 132 people (15.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 501 males, 471 females, and 6 people of other genders in 363 dwellings. 4.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 156 people (16.0%) aged under 15 years, 165 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 534 (54.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 123 (12.6%) aged 65 or older. == Further reading ==