Onerahi

Suburb in Whangārei, New Zealand

Onerahi
Suburb
Aerial view of Onerahi, showing Whangārei Airport
Coordinates: 35°46′S 174°22′E / 35.767°S 174.367°E / -35.767; 174.367
Country	New Zealand
City	Whangārei
Local authority	Whangārei District Council
Electoral ward	Whangārei Urban Ward
Area [1]
• Land	560 ha (1,380 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	6,830
Airports	Whangārei Airport

Whangārei
	Onerahi	Parua Bay
(Whangārei Harbour)	(Whangārei Harbour)	(Whangārei Harbour)

Onerahi, for half a century known as Grahamtown, is a seaside suburb of Whangārei, New Zealand's northernmost city. It is the city's only seaside suburb.^[3] It is located 9 km south-east of the centre of Whangārei and is principally a peninsula in the Whangārei Harbour, which empties into the Pacific Ocean.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "long beach" for Onerahi.^[4] The name however recalls the tale twin sisters of Reipae and Reitū, the "rahirahi" referring to "overhearing". With Reipae believed to have alighted here, after over hearing Reitū and their kārearea discussing plans to solely marry the Te Rarawa chief, Ueoneone.^[5]

The suburb's main feature is Whangārei Airport, located on the large flat area at the southern end of the suburb, which was built up using material from the site of a former Māori pā (fortress) just to the north.

There are two concentric roads around the seaward plateau; the upper one surrounds the airport, and the lower follows the coast.^[6] The suburb is connected to Whangārei via the Onerahi Causeway.

Close to the suburb in the harbour is Motu Matakohe or Limestone Island, now being managed to restore its ecosystems. Public transport in Onerahi solely consists of bus services, the suburb is serviced by Citylink route 2 bus via Riverside Drive to Whangārei City.