Orini

From the 1600s: Ngati Koura and Ngati Wairere Waikai occupied the area, mainly for eel fishing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/assets/PageFiles/233/Pukemokemoke-Teachers%20Resource%20Part1.pdf|title=Pukemokemoke Bush Learning Resource for Primary School teachers|last=Irving|first=Robin|date=2010}} An old waka was discovered in 1937.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370318.2.101|title=OLD WAR CANOE FOUND (New Zealand Herald, 1937-03-18)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}}

After the invasion of the Waikato, the area was confiscated in 1863{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/33583/confiscation-map-1869|title=Confiscation map, 1869|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-02-03}} and cut up into lots for the military settlers, though deemed too swampy for occupation.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18760623.2.12|title=THE Daily Southern Cross. (1876-06-23)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-05}}

Flax was milled in the area from 1890 until a 1908 fire and again from 1918. A new Orini mill opened in 1936{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19361231.2.15|title=FLAX INDUSTRY (New Zealand Herald, 1936-12-31)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}} and flax was still being grown in 1938, when there was another fire.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19380310.2.117|title=FLAX FIRE (New Zealand Herald, 1938-03-10)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}} The drained peat has also caught fire from time to time.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19240128.2.36|title=WAIKATO PEAT FIRES. (New Zealand Herald, 1924-01-28)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}}{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19280112.2.26|title=SWAMP FIRES. (Auckland Star, 1928-01-12)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}}

Electricity came in 1928.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19280316.2.143|title=POWER IN THE COUNTRY. (New Zealand Herald, 1928-03-16)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-06}} A hall was built{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370707.2.204|title=NEW HALL AT WHITIKAHU (New Zealand Herald, 1937-07-07)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-06}} and a bus service to Hamilton, started in 1937{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370419.2.161|title=TRANSPORT LICENCES (New Zealand Herald, 1937-04-19)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}} and was still running in 1964{{Cite web|url=http://www.omnibus.org.nz/history/leslie.html|title=LESLIE BUSES|website=www.omnibus.org.nz|access-date=2018-11-25}} and into the 1970s.{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/nzbusmuseum/history/operw.html|title=The New Zealand Bus Museum|last=Butler|first=Michael|website=www.geocities.ws|access-date=2018-11-25}}

Orini locality covers {{Convert|31.06|km2||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=24 March 2025}} It is part of the larger Whitikahu statistical area.{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}

{{Historical populations|2006|264|2013|300|2018|294|2023|315|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|7011150 and 7011153}}}}

Orini had a population of 315 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (7.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 15 people (5.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 162 males and 150 females in 90 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7011150%2B7011153.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 1.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 84 people (26.7%) aged under 15 years, 60 (19.0%) aged 15 to 29, 138 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (11.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.6% European (Pākehā); 14.3% Māori; 1.9% Pasifika; 4.8% Asian; and 1.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori language by 1.0%, and other languages by 5.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 25.7% Christian, 1.9% Islam, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% Buddhist, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.8%, and 2.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (19.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 138 (59.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 57 (24.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 36 people (15.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 135 (58.4%) people were employed full-time, 33 (14.3%) were part-time, and 3 (1.3%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7011150%2B7011153.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=7011150 and 7011153}}

Orini had a school by 1912.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1913/I/4202|title=Appendix to the Journal of the House of Representatives, 1 JANUARY 1913 EDUCATION: PRIMARY EDUCATION.|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}} It was replaced with Orini Combined School, formed from a merger of Orini, Te Hoe, Netherby and Mangawara schools.{{Cite web|url=http://www.orini.school.nz/|title=Orini Combined School|website=www.orini.school.nz|access-date=2018-11-08}}

It is now a co-educational state primary school,{{cite web |title=Official School Website |url=https://www.orini.school.nz |website=orini.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1869 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1869|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1869 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://rainfallmap.waikatoregion.govt.nz/cgi-bin/hydwebserver.cgi/points/details?point=53&catchment=16 Mangawara Stream water level]

{{Geographic Location|title=Neighbouring areas|Northwest=Huntly|North=Lake Waikare|Northeast=Tahuna|West=Taupiri|Centre=Orini|East=|South=Whitikahu|Southeast=Morrinsville|Southwest=Ngāruawāhia}}

Category:Populated places in Waikato

Category:Waikato District