title: Ohinewai
text: # Ohinewai
  
  Ohinewai (Māori: Ōhinewai) is a small settlement in the Waikato Region, in New Zealand. It is located on the east bank of the Waikato River on SH1, 9 km north of Huntly
  
  The name Ohinewai is Māori for "girl's water place" (o = place of, hine = girl, wai = water), or, more likely, "place of Hinewai", Hinewai being a female personal name.
  
  In July 2019, bed manufacturer Comfort Group announced its intention to create an affordable housing estate in Ohinewai. It has purchased 176ha of land with the intention of developing 1100 homes.
  
  ## Marae
  
  The local marae, Matahuru Papakainga, is a traditional meeting ground for the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Makirangi, Ngāti Mahuta and Ngāti Naho, and the Ngāpuhi hapū of Ngāti Hine.
  
  In October 2020, the Government committed $2,584,751 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 7 other Waikato Tainui marae, creating 40 jobs.
  
  ## Education
  
  Ohinewai School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 99 as of April 2023.
  
  