Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula. It is 70 kilometres northeast of Napier, and a similar distance southwest of Gisborne.
Wairoa is Māori for long water.[1]
Early settlement in the area included a whaling station and trading post, dealing largely in flax. Its initial name was Clyde, but this was changed largely to avoid confusion with Clive near Napier and Clyde in the South Island. The north part of the town is called North Clyde. The town rose to prominence during the New Zealand Wars, during which time it was a garrison town.
Wairoa is a manufacturing and farming service town. It is the seat of the Wairoa District Council. The Wairoa District covers the northern half of the bay's coast, and extends from Mahia Peninsula to Lake Waikaremoana, and south to the mouth of the Waikare River. It has a population of 8,481 inhabitants (2006 census).[2] The District has a land area of 4,119.18 km2 (1,590.42 sq mi).
Wairoa has one secondary school, Wairoa College.[3]
Wairoa is situated on the SH2, which gives connections to Gisborne to the north east and Napier to the south west. It is connected to the Central North Island by SH38 which goes from Wai-O-Tapu via Murupara and Frasertown to Wairoa, and which connects to Rotorua via Te Urewera, and Lake Waikaremoana.
Since 2005, Wairoa has been host to the annual Wairoa Maori Film Festival, New Zealand's premiere Maori and indigenous film festival, which has hosted film makers from across the nation and around the world.
In 2010 Wairoa was subject to gang incidents between the Mongrel Mob and Black Power gangs.[4]
The current mayor is Les Probert, who has held the position since 2001. His deputy is Denise Eaglesome.
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