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.

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 town rose to prominence during the Maori Wars, during which time it was a garrison town.

Today, the town has a population (2004 estimate) of 4300, and 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 Waikari River. It has a population of about 10,000.

External links

• The council's site (http://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/)
• A look at Wairoa (http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/pdg/Wairoa.htm)