Central Hawke's Bay District

Central Hawke's Bay District is in the Hawke's Bay Region in the North Island of New Zealand. Formed in 1989, it covers an area of 3,333 square kilometres, from Pukehou in the north to Takapau in the south, and from the western Ruahine Range to the Pacific coast in the east. It has a population of up from 14,142 in the 2018 census and 12,717 in the 2013 census.

Geography
The two main towns are Waipukurau (population ) and Waipawa, which are just 7 km apart. Smaller townships include Ōtāne, Takapau, Tikokino and Ongaonga. There are also several small beach communities, including Kairakau, Pourerere, Aramoana, Blackhead and Pōrangahau.

There is a marae in each of the four corners of the district, at Pukehou, Kairakau, Pōrangahau and Takapau.

Local government
The district is administered by the Central Hawke's Bay District Council, which was formed through the 1989 local government reforms by amalgamating Waipukurau District Council and the Waipawa District Council. The district is divided into two wards: Ruataniwha is an urban ward based on the towns of Waipukurau and Waipawa; Aramoana-Ruahine is a largely rural ward. The council seat is in Waipawa.

Demographics
Central Hawke's Bay District covers 3333.00 km2 and had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Central Hawke's Bay District had a population of 15,480 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,338 people (9.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,763 people (21.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 6,936 dwellings. The median age was 43.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3,150 people (20.3%) aged under 15 years, 2,181 (14.1%) aged 15 to 29, 6,864 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 3,294 (21.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.9% European/Pākehā, 25.2% Māori, 3.1% Pasifika, 2.9% Asian, 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders, and 1.3% other. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Central Hawke's Bay District had a population of 14,142 at the 2018 New Zealand census. There were 5,418 households, comprising 7,014 males and 7,125 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.8% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 2.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,482 (13.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 2,631 (23.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 1,128 people (10.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 5,640 (50.4%) people were employed full-time, 1,746 (15.6%) were part-time, and 330 (2.9%) were unemployed.

Transportation
State Highway 2 runs through the centre of Central Hawke's Bay, leading south to Palmerston North (108 km) and the Wairarapa and north to Hastings (50 km) and Napier. It is 70 kilometres to Napier Port and 75 kilometres to Napier Airport. The Palmerston North – Gisborne railway line runs through the district, with one station at Waipukurau. This line connects to the Wairarapa Line at Woodville, and continues through the Manawatū Gorge to Palmerston North.