Onerahi

Onerahi
Aerial view of Onerahi, showing Whangārei Airport
Interactive map of Onerahi
Coordinates: 35°46′S 174°22′E / 35.767°S 174.367°E / -35.767; 174.367
CountryNew Zealand
CityWhangārei
Local authorityWhangārei District Council
Electoral wardWhangārei Urban Ward
Area
 • Land560 ha (1,400 acres)
Population
 (June 2025)
 • Total
6,580
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
AirportsWhangārei Airport
Whangārei
Onerahi
Parua Bay
(Whangārei Harbour) (Whangārei Harbour) (Whangārei Harbour)

Onerahi is a harbourside suburb of Whangārei, New Zealand's northernmost city. It is the city's only seaside suburb. It is 9 km south-east of the centre of Whangārei and is mostly a peninsula jutting into Whangārei Harbour, which connects to the Pacific Ocean. The area was called Kaiwaka Point until Europeans bought it in the mid-1860s and renamed it Grahamtown. In 1912 it was renamed Onerahi.

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. 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.