Hawkes Bay

Whether it is the long hot languid days of summer, the golden hues of harvest or crisp air and blue skies of winter, Hawke’s Bay is waiting to be discovered.

Located on the east coast of the North Island, the landscapes of Hawke’s Bay begin with the high, forested Ruahine and Kawkeka Ranges. From the mountains the land sweeps down towards the coast, flattening out to become the Heretaunga Plains. A number of wide rivers run swiftly to meet the blue Pacific Ocean and glorious beaches which stretch from Mahia in the north to Porangahau in the south. Hawke’s Bay has a Mediterranean climate with long, warm, dry summers with temperatures in the mid 20's and short, mild winters. The population of the region is approximately 150,000 and when taken together the cities of Napier and Hastings constitute the fifth largest urban area in New Zealand.

Hawke’s Bay has six major urban areas – Hastings, Napier, Havelock North, Taradale, Wairoa and Waipukurau - all with their unique lifestyle options. So you have the choice of living close to the sea, the river, in a picturesque rural setting, in a friendly suburb or in the middle of a small city. Within Hastings and Napier (only 20 minutes apart) there are many suburbs, plus modern expanding subdivisions offering a range of residential housing and welcoming communities. Green areas are held in very high regard by Hawke’s Bay residents, so a community park or garden is never very far away from a residential area.

Hawke’s Bay is home to a world-class concentration of Art Deco architecture with Napier known as the Art Deco capital of New Zealand. It is also the country’s oldest winemaking region and is New Zealand’s leading producer of award winning red wines.

Perfect Lifestyle

Hawke’s Bay has a lifestyle unmatched in New Zealand with a near perfect climate and excellent natural resources that provide many opportunities for business and pleasure. From the peace and tranquility offered in rural areas to the bustle of an urban setting, choices abound for those who choose to live and work here.

The cost of living in Hawke’s Bay is relatively low compared to the rest of the country. The region’s plentiful natural resources, abundance of fruit and vegetables, lower housing costs and ease of travel helps keep costs down.

Arts and Culture

Hawke’s Bay is incredibly fortunate to have a thriving local arts community which gives the region a unique culture of its own. The region is also home to Ngati Kahungunu, a tribe of the indigenous Maori population. Ngati Kahungunu has its own unique history, stories and culture and is quite unique from other tribes around the country and is well infused into the tapestry of the local scene.

Infrastructure and Industry

The region has a sound base of infrastructure, whether this is from the point of view of high-speed telecommunications, roads or sewer and trade waste capacity. A key strategic asset is the Port of Napier, which is one of the most efficient export ports in the country. The availability of land connected via rail and road links to the port, plus the stable pool of skilled labour also contribute to the strengths of this region.

Hawke’s Bay is home to a well-rounded group of industrial sectors that stretch across the spectrum of primary, manufacturing through to tertiary services. Agriculture is strong and broad based, with an emphasis on pastoral farming and horticultural activities. Other sizable manufacturing sectors include forestry and wood processing, chemicals and a small but entrepreneurial engineering and technology industry.

The region is the retail hub of the eastern North Island, has strong healthcare and education sectors and a fast growing finance, real estate and business services industry.

Education

Hawke’s Bay has a strong offering of good quality primary schools and secondary schools and is well served by a combination of state funded public schools and a cluster of prestigious private institutions.

The Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in Taradale is the largest provider of tertiary education for the East Coast of the North Island. It offers an extensive range of courses to over 27,000 equivalent fulltime students including eight full-time and three partial degree programmes.

A range of local and national education and training organisations provide training support and retraining options for business and industry. Over 50% of EIT students are aged 26 years and over and many of these are people retraining.

The region is becoming the first choice for an increasing number of international students who want to study road and get a quality education in one of the best places in the world in which to live.

With a high quality of life and enviable climate Hawke’s Bay is a great place in which to live, work and establish a business. So if you are intending to migrate to New Zealand, consider Hawke’s Bay as your new home – you will not be disappointed.

Find out more about making Hawke's Bay your home

Tourism Hawkes Bay

Investment and Business

Regional Council

Regional Newspaper - Hawke's Bay Today