Omata

This article is about the locality. For the electorate, see Omata (New Zealand electorate).

Omata
Tapuae Beach
Tapuae Beach
Map
Coordinates: 39°5′38″S 174°1′13″E / 39.09389°S 174.02028°E / -39.09389; 174.02028
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki Region
Territorial authorityNew Plymouth District
Ward
  • Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward
  • Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
CommunityKaitake Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityNew Plymouth District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total16.25 km2 (6.27 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total540
 • Density33/km2 (86/sq mi)

Omata is a locality in Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand.[3] It is located on State Highway 45 just southwest of New Plymouth.[4][5] Omata and Western New Plymouth are adjacent to the Tapuae Marine Reserve.

The area was the site of the Omata Stockade, built to house soldiers during tensions at the time of the First Taranaki War in 1860–61, and is near the site of the Battle of Waireka on 28 March 1860.[6] The stockade, designed and constructed by local settlers, was built on the site of Ngāturi Pā.[7] In August 1860, most of Omata village was burnt down during the war.[7] Troops were stationed at the stockade until 1866, and it was demolished by farmers and the remains auctioned off in late 1867.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Place name detail: Omata". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  4. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 34. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  5. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 84. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  6. ^ "The New Zealand Wars" by James Cowan, 1922, chapter 19.
  7. ^ a b c Prickett, Nigel (1994). "Pakeha and Maori Fortifications of the First Taranaki War, 1860–61". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 31: 1–87. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906439. Wikidata Q58677455.