Welcome to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council webpage giving information on public access to rivers in the region. Hawke's Bay has distinctive braided rivers that provide attractive areas for water sports, picnics, horse-riding, trail biking, mountain biking, whitebaiting and fishing.
The Council manages the river-side areas primarily for flood control purposes but recognises that these areas are also immensely popular with the public. In 1996, the Council began a seven year programme to upgrade and enhance the accessible areas along our riverbanks that are most highly used by improving access ways, providing picnic facilities and establishing trails for walking, biking and horseriding.
On this page |  |
Enjoy your time at the river and leave it as you found it for others to enjoy.
We work hard to keep facilities tidy, but the cost of clearing dumped rubbish, car bodies and damaged facilities falls on the whole community. People found causing any damage will be prosecuted and if you see any illegal activity please notify the Police or the Regional Council.
- Do not dump rubbish. Take your rubbish home with you to recycle or use the bins provided.
- Only light fires in the barbecues provided and take care when it's very dry.
- Don't damage trees, gates or fences, tables or barbecues.
- Camping is not permitted.
- Keep vehicles to designated tracks when on stopbanks.
- Please report any damage, dumping or burning of car bodies to Police.
- Some areas are leased for grazing, please keep clear of stock.
All the following areas have a single point for vehicular access for security and ease of management. Pedestrian access is, however, available right through the river systems and there are a number of marked stiles to guide walkers over fences. Horse jumps are located in popular riding areas.
Access points: Guppy Road, Omaranui Road, Springfield Road, Hakowhai, Dartmoor, Mangaone
The Tutaekuri is fed by rainwater from the Kaweka Ranges. Before the earthquake in 1931, it used to flow out through the estuary behind Napier Hill but now has a common opening with the Ngaruroro.
The river takes its name from an incident about 400 years ago, when a group from Ngati Kahungunu from Wairoa were on their way home. As they were hungry when they arrived at Hikawera's home between Omahu and Waiohiki, he had seventy dogs cooked to feed the travellers. The offal was thrown into the river, and so it was named Tutaekuri - the offal of the dog.
| Access points: Waitangi, Pakowhai, Gilbertson Road, Ormond Road, Carrick Road, Omahu, Maraekakaho, Ohiti The river flows from the Kaweka Ranges and supplies water to the Heretaunga Plains underground aquifer through its gravel beds between Maraekakaho and Fernhill. The aquifer supplies water for both Napier and Hastings cities, and many farmers and growers use this water to irrigate crops.
Ngaruroro is taken from Ngaru - ripple, and upokororo - a freshwater fish, now extinct. Early in Maori history, Mahu was on his way home to Mahia when his dog startled a shoal of upokororo, causing the water to ripple. |  Waitangi Estuary |
Access points: Clive Bridge, Estuary
This is the remainder of the orginal course of the Ngaruroro River. It has a huge tributary area across the Heretaunga Plains and carries water from a number of large streams, including the Raupare and Karamu. The lower river reaches of the Clive are tidal and the even flow makes it a popular area for rowing and boating.
The Tutaekuri, Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers share a common estuarine river mouth which provides good feeding and nesting areas for migratory birds.
| Access points: Lower Tukituki - Blackbridge, Tennant Road, River Road, Red Bridge. Upper Tukituki access points are located in Central Hawke's Bay. This river flows 110km north and east from the Ruahine Ranges where the headwaters start in the same hills as the Manawatu River. The river is fed from rainfall in the high ranges and provides water for farms and orchards from Central Hawke's Bay to the eastern corner of the Heretaunga Plains. It takes its name from a fishing technique used by Maori. Tuki upokororo means to slap the water to drive small fish into the net. During the 1880s when farming was developing, barges used to travel down the river carrying wool from Waipawa to deliver to lighters off the coast at Haumoana. |  Tukituki at Black Bridge |
Alongside the Raupare Stream on the southern side of the Chesterhope Bridge on Pakowhai Road between Napier and Hastings is the Pakowhai Country Park. This public recreation area is situated on the former bed of the Ngauroro River which was diverted in 1969 to it new course 500 metres north. A walk through the park has been developed as a memorial to Doug Walker, who was Chairman of the Council 1992-1996 and a leader in the development of much of the flood protection work on the Heretaunga Plains.
| Access Point: The Domain, SH2 The Esk River (20 minutes north of Napier alongside SH5 to Taupo) is not part of the Heretaunga Plains river system but is an attractive river, popular for swimming, fishing and whitebaiting. The Domain is a popular camping and picnic site. The Regional Council maintains stopbanks alongside the river but the Domain is administered by Hastings District Council. |  Esk River at Domain |