Wairoa
Wairoa | |
|---|---|
Riverbank adjacent to town centre, viewed from the bridge over the Wairoa River, 2010 | |
| Coordinates: 39°02′06″S 177°25′05″E / 39.035°S 177.418°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Hawke's Bay |
| Territorial authority | Wairoa District |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Craig Little |
| • Deputy Mayor | Denise Eaglesome-Karekare |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.57 km2 (2.92 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024) | |
• Total | 4,720 |
| • Density | 620/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 4108 |
| Website | Official website |
Wairoa is the largest town in the Wairoa District and the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Māhia Peninsula. It is 118 kilometres (73 mi) northeast of Napier, and 92 kilometres (57 mi) southwest of Gisborne, on State Highway 2. It is the nearest town to the Te Urewera protected area and former national park, which is accessible from Wairoa via State Highway 38. It is one of three towns in New Zealand where Māori outnumber other ethnicities (the other towns being Kawerau and Ōpōtiki), with 62.29% of the population identifying as Māori.