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{{Short description|Town in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand}}
{{About|the town|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Wairoa
| native_name             = 
| native_name_lang        = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type         = [[Urban areas of New Zealand|Minor urban area]]
| total_type              = 
| image_skyline           = Wairoa waterfront on Wairoa River.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Riverbank adjacent to town centre, viewed from the bridge over the [[Wairoa River (Hawke's Bay)|Wairoa River]], 2010
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map               = {{Infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|-39.035|177.418}}|zoom=11}}
| etymology               = 
| pushpin_map             = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|-39.035|177.418|region:NZ-HKB|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Wairoa District]]
| seat_type               = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]]
| seat                    = {{ubl|[[Napier (New Zealand electorate)|Napier]]|[[Ikaroa-Rāwhiti]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])}}
| leader_title            = Territorial authority
| leader_name             = [[Wairoa District Council]]
| leader_title2           = [[Mayor of Wairoa]]
| leader_name2            = {{NZ officeholder data|Wairoa District Mayor|y}}
| leader_title3           = [[Napier (New Zealand electorate)|Napier MP]]
| leader_name3            = {{NZ officeholder data|Napier MP|y}}
| leader_title4           = [[Ikaroa-Rāwhiti|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP]]
| leader_name4            = {{NZ officeholder data|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP|y}}
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="Area"/>
| area_total_km2          = 7.57
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| population_as_of        = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
| population_footnotes    = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
| population_total        = {{NZ population data 2018|Wairoa|y}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in New Zealand|Postcode(s)]]
| postal_code             = 4108
| website                 = [http://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/ Official website]
}}

'''Wairoa''' is the largest town in the [[Wairoa District]] and the northernmost town in the [[Hawke's Bay]] region of New Zealand's [[North Island]]. It is located on the northern shore of [[Hawke Bay]] at the mouth of the [[Wairoa River (Hawke's Bay)|Wairoa River]] and to the west of [[Māhia Peninsula]]. It is {{convert|118|km}} northeast of [[Napier, New Zealand|Napier]], and {{convert|92|km}} southwest of [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]], on [[State Highway 2 (New Zealand)|State Highway 2]]. It is the nearest town to the [[Te Urewera (protected area)|Te Urewera]] [[protected area]] and former [[national park]], which is accessible from Wairoa via [[State Highway 38 (New Zealand)|State Highway 38]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 January 2010|title=Where the land speaks|work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/where-land-speaks |access-date=4 October 2010}}</ref>  It is one of three towns in New Zealand where [[Māori people|Māori]] outnumber other ethnicities (the other towns being [[Kawerau]] and [[Ōpōtiki]]), with 62.29% of the population identifying as Māori.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McQuillan|first=Laura|date=23 September 2016|title=Which is New Zealand's whitest region?|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/84484733/which-is-new-zealands-whitest-region|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref>

==History==

===Early history===

Te Wairoa was originally a Māori settlement. The ancestral waka (canoe) ''[[Tākitimu]]'' travelled up the Wairoa river (full name: Te Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenenge Matangirau) and landed at Mākeakea, near where Tākitimu meeting house stands today. Te Reinga Falls is the starting point of the Wairoa river and said to be linked with the taniwha Hinekorako and Ruamano, who guided ''Takitimu'' to Aotearoa. The Wairoa River mouth is associated with two taniwha, [[Tapuwae Poharutanga o Tukutuku|Tapuwae]] and Te Maaha, who are engaged in an ongoing struggle.<ref name=wairoas-areas>{{Cite web |title=Wairoas areas |publisher=Wairoa i-SITE |url=https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/welcome-to-wairoa/wairoas-areas |access-date=20 February 2023 |website=www.visitwairoa.co.nz}}</ref> There were a number of pā in close vicinity to the river, and the river was a major route for transport and trading. The river was an important source of food and still is to this day, including whitebait, flounder, mullet and eel.

[[File:Wairoa Old Portland Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|Wairoa Lighthouse]]

Early European settlement in the area included a [[whaling]] station and trading post established by William Rhodes in 1839,<ref name="nzhistory.govt.nz">{{Cite web|title=Wairoa |website=NZHistory |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/wairoa |access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref> dealing largely in [[New Zealand flax|flax]]. These establishments offered sufficient income and attraction. Wairoa's initial name was Clyde, but this was changed, largely to avoid confusion with [[Clive, New Zealand|Clive]] near Napier and [[Clyde, New Zealand|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.

The New Zealand government bought the land on which the town is built in 1864. This land was divided up and then sold as sections in 1866.<ref name="nzhistory.govt.nz"/> The Wairoa Harbour Board was established in 1872.<ref name=":0" /> The Wairoa lighthouse was built between 1877 and 1878 and its beacon was first lit in 1878. The tower was reinforced in 1879 to provide greater stability after a storm damaged it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} Wairoa Lighthouse |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/4852|access-date=12 September 2021|website=[[Heritage New Zealand]] }}</ref> The first bridge across the Wairoa river was built in 1888.<ref name=wairoas-areas/>

===20th century===
The Wairoa Borough Council was established in 1909.<ref name=":0">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Wairoa |first=Brian Newton |last=Davis |author-link=Brian Davis (bishop) |editor-first=A. H. |editor-last=McLintock |editor-link=Alexander Hare McLintock |encyclopedia=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]] |date=1966 |url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/wairoa |via=[[Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=2 July 2024}}</ref> The Napier to Wairoa railway line was started in 1911. Progress was intermittent with the Wairoa river railway bridge being built in 1930.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Napier – Gisborne Railway |url=https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/napier-gisborne-railway/|access-date=21 September 2021 |website=www.engineeringnz.org |publisher=Engineering New Zealand |language=en}}</ref> The railway line was  completed in 1937. In April 1938, flooding hit the area, causing hundreds of slips which damaged the railway line. Work to restore the railway took place and  it was opened again for trains by the end of 1938<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Story of the … — Napier-Wairoa Railway {{!}} NZETC|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov14_11Rail-t1-body-d9.html|access-date=21 September 2021|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz}}</ref> and fully utilised by 1939. This led to a decline in the use of the port at Wairoa, with the port used for the last time in 1942. The Wairoa Harbour Board was abolished in 1946.<ref name=":0"/> The road bridge across the Wairoa river was damaged in the [[1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake]] and a replacement bridge was completed in 1933.<ref name=wairoas-areas/>

Annie and Rosamond Smyth were murdered in their home in the Salvation Army hall in 1942. The killer was not identified at the time. Herbert Brunton was murdered in 1948, and this also went unsolved. Leo Silvester Hannan made a death bed confession to the three killings in 1962 while in prison for a 1950 murder in Wellington.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga |title=Smyth, Annie |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5s32/smyth-annie|access-date=18 September 2021 |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NZ serial killers' first victims unnoticed for 13 days in home |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nz-serial-killers-first-victims-unnoticed-for-13-days-in-home/S5I5IFUZ65EIYYVWQSZQN5JEKU/ |access-date=18 September 2021 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

In early March 1988, much of the North Island was severely affected by storm damage from [[Cyclone Bola]].  In Wairoa, three days of heavy rain in the catchment areas caused severe flooding and damage including the loss of a 60-metre section of town's main bridge, cutting the town in half, and interrupting phone lines and the town's water supply. There was severe flood damage to farms, businesses, homes and the showgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 March 2018|title=Wairoa farmer recalls Bola's three days of devastation|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/102224323/wairoa-farmer-recalls-bolas-three-days-of-devastation|access-date=28 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref> A new bridge, the third at the location, was completed and officially opened by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1990.<ref name=wairoas-areas/>

In 1990 Wairoa won the last New Zealand Top Town Final in the original [[Top Town]] series and were the reigning champs until the series started again in 2009. Due to some confusion with a claim by [[Greymouth]] to be the last champions, Wairoa was not eligible for the new top town series and unable to defend their title.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10545072|title=Pride at stake for Top Town's title pretenders|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|first=Jarrod|last=Booker|date=26 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radiolive.co.nz/LUSHWhy-isnt-Wairoa-the-1990-Top-Town-champions-in-the-new-TVNZ-series/tabid/506/articleID/8935/Default.aspx|title=LUSH~Why isn't Wairoa, the 1990 Top Town champions, in the new TVNZ series|date=25 November 2008|publisher=RadioLIVE}}</ref>

===Gang conflict===
There have long been tensions between the rival [[Mongrel Mob]] and [[Black Power (New Zealand gang)|Black Power]] gangs in Wairoa. In 1988, Wairoa's main street: Marine Parade was the scene of a fatal shooting of two Black Power associates. In 2003, a Mongrel Mob member was killed in February and a sniper shot a Black Power gang member dead in a van following an incident near the Wairoa Courthouse in November.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Man shot in face in Wairoa incident|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/man-shot-in-face-in-wairoa-incident/VSQZFVBJFGGBXJUGKJAVLMAPYA/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Violence |url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-dominion-post/20101106/282432755534379 |access-date=7 March 2023 |publisher=The Dominion Post |date=6 November 2010 |language=en-nz |via=PressReader}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 November 2010|title=Locals unfazed by gangs|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/4316151/Locals-unfazed-by-gangs|access-date=18 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 July 2010|title=Neighbour dives for cover in gang shooting|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3881148/Neighbour-dives-for-cover-in-gang-shooting|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, a Black Power gang member was shot in the face.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 July 2010|title=Strong police presence in Wairoa after gang shooting|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/54194/strong-police-presence-in-wairoa-after-gang-shooting|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> Two Black Power members retaliated later that year and shot a Mongrel Mob member several times at a Wairoa petrol station.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 October 2012|title=Gang pair get 12 years over shooting|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/7832641/Gang-pair-get-12-years-over-shooting|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, gang related violence flared again with five separate incidents of guns being fired at homes in Wairoa. The police launched Operation Atlas to reduce tensions and stop the ongoing violence in Wairoa.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Shootings, gang tensions spark Wairoa police operation|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/shootings-gang-tensions-spark-wairoa-police-operation|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="nzherald.co.nz">{{Cite web|title=Armed Offenders Squad raids houses after shooting injures one in Wairoa|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/armed-offenders-squad-raids-houses-after-shooting-injures-one-in-wairoa/IGJSXJK4ABQ7R6TQE6FP35JIY4/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=22 June 2021|title=Extra police in Wairoa after rising gang violence, shootings|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018800854/extra-police-in-wairoa-after-rising-gang-violence-shootings|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> In 2022, a shotgun blast hit the window of a child's bedroom (though the child was not present in the room) and a person received serious leg injuries.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Shotgun blast hits child's bedroom window in Wairoa gang violence |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/05/18/shotgun-blast-hits-childs-bedroom-window-in-wairoa-gang-violence/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=1 News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Child's bedroom shattered by shotgun blast |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/childs-bedroom-shattered-by-shotgun-blast-in-wairoa/4QGB4QMN33RESVEI46RBZUCBTY/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> This was due to gang-crossfire where two homes were shot at in a drive-by shooting.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

===21st century===
In 2017, [[Rocket Lab]] built their rocket launch site on the [[Māhia Peninsula|Mahia Peninsula]] with Wairoa being the closet town to the site (83 kilometres away). This has led to a number of employment opportunities for Wairoa.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Space Coast New Zealand » Wairoa i-SITE|url=https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/welcome-to-wairoa/space-coast-new-zealand/|access-date=12 September 2021|website=www.visitwairoa.co.nz}}</ref>

The Wairoa branch of the [[ANZ Bank New Zealand|ANZ bank]] closed in 2018, and the [[Bank of New Zealand|BNZ]] and [[Westpac]] banks closed in 2021. Wairoa also lost its only dentist in 2020 forcing locals to visit Gisborne or Napier for dental treatment.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 April 2021|title=Losing its banks, and no dentist: The 'sad life' for rural New Zealand as more services shut down|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/124831273/losing-its-banks-and-no-dentist-the-sad-life-for-rural-new-zealand-as-more-services-shut-down|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa mayor laments banks leaving town: 'We'd roll out the red carpet' for another one|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/wairoa-mayor-laments-banks-leaving-town-wed-roll-out-the-red-carpet-for-another-one/SQ2UANRGMUZCCE62YLBHIMVWMY/|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=13 April 2021|title=Banks promise no further regional branch closures this year|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/440405/banks-promise-no-further-regional-branch-closures-this-year|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

In February 2023, Wairoa was hit by [[Cyclone Gabrielle]] with it being described as "the most catastrophic weather event Wairoa has experienced in living memory".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dennett |first=Kelly |date=16 February 2023 |title=Cyclone Gabrielle: Inside Wairoa, the town cut off by the storm |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300808853/cyclone-gabrielle-inside-wairoa-the-town-cut-off-by-the-storm |access-date=20 February 2023 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Cyclone Gabrielle: Photos show the aftermath in Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa |language=en |work=[[Newshub]] |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/02/cyclone-gabrielle-photos-show-the-aftermath-in-hawke-s-bay-town-of-wairoa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220205643/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/02/cyclone-gabrielle-photos-show-the-aftermath-in-hawke-s-bay-town-of-wairoa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2023 |access-date=20 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2023 |title=Photo essay: Cyclone Gabrielle's aftermath in Hawke's Bay |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/484433/photo-essay-cyclone-gabrielle-s-aftermath-in-hawke-s-bay |access-date=20 February 2023 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Emotional toll mounting in Wairoa: 'Lots of desperate people' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/cyclone-gabrielle-how-wairoa-residents-are-coping/KTZMMOI2WVEH7OK5HFZKMTYWTA/ |access-date=20 February 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwanecke |first=Gianina |date=14 February 2023 |title=Cyclone Gabrielle: Town cut off as Wairoa River bursts its banks, flooding homes of about half its population |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/131220076/cyclone-gabrielle-town-cut-off-as-wairoa-river-bursts-its-banks-flooding-homes-of-about-half-its-population |access-date=20 February 2023 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> [[State Highway 2 (New Zealand)|State Highway 2]] between Napier and Wairoa was closed until May 2023 because of the damage it suffered.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The bridge that will connect Napier to Wairoa |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/local-focus-the-bridge-that-will-connect-napier-to-wairoa/OGLWN47XNRC3LPBLNQPNKXXUZA/ |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> in May 2023, plans were progressing to prevent flooding affecting Wairoa again with the Hawke's Bay Regional Council saying that they wish to invest in a flood protection scheme. The risk of flooding "in some areas as high as 5 percent. This means, for example, that a dwelling designed for a 50-year life has a 93 percent chance of being flooded in its lifetime." It was noted by the mayor Craig Little, "There is actually zero flood protection at the moment" for Wairoa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-26 |title=Plans finally underway to stop Wairoa flooding again |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/490691/plans-finally-underway-to-stop-wairoa-flooding-again |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

In late June 2024, Wairoa experienced torrential rain and high tides,<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 June 2024 |title=As it happened: Evacuations in parts of Tai Rāwhiti, Hawke's Bay |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520555/as-it-happened-evacuations-in-parts-of-tai-rawhiti-hawke-s-bay |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=[[RNZ]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701232133/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520555/as-it-happened-evacuations-in-parts-of-tai-rawhiti-hawke-s-bay|archive-date=1 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> which led to 118 homes being flooded.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 July 2024 |title=Wairoa flooding: PM Christopher Luxon plans visit; families rehoused at holiday park |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/wairoa-flooding-pm-christopher-luxon-plans-visit-families-rehoused-at-holiday-park/4D7PHFKZJNCEFHU3MIZINZ6F74/ |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=[[Hawkes Bay Today]] |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704213956/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/wairoa-flooding-pm-christopher-luxon-plans-visit-families-rehoused-at-holiday-park/4D7PHFKZJNCEFHU3MIZINZ6F74/|archive-date=4 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> The flooding was compounded by a blockage at the mouth of the [[Wairoa River (Hawke's Bay)|Wairoa River]], which caused the river to burst its banks and significant flooding three blocks inland.<ref>{{cite news |title=Running from the water again in Hawke's Bay: The morning when angry seas and creaking rivers met |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/running-from-the-water-again-in-hawkes-bay-the-morning-when-angry-seas-and-creaking-rivers-met/HGYUYNM77VF3FFUPOLFFLKNETA/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=[[Hawke's Bay Today]] |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=26 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626130349/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/running-from-the-water-again-in-hawkes-bay-the-morning-when-angry-seas-and-creaking-rivers-met/HGYUYNM77VF3FFUPOLFFLKNETA/ |archive-date=26 June 2024}}</ref> In response to flooding, the New Zealand Government allocated NZ$3 million to disaster relief efforts in Wairoa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Government pumps a further $3m into Wairoa flood recovery |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/521446/government-pumps-a-further-3m-into-wairoa-flood-recovery |access-date=7 July 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706062752/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/521446/government-pumps-a-further-3m-into-wairoa-flood-recovery |archive-date=6 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the Wairoa flooding, both the [[Hawke's Bay Regional Council]] and the Government commissioned investigations into local flood mitigation efforts.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pocock |first1=James |last2=Hamilton-Irvine |first2=Gary |date=27 June 2024 |title=Timeline of a flood in Wairoa: Hawke's Bay Regional Council defends decisions around river mouth opening |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/timeline-of-a-flood-in-wairoa-hawkes-bay-regional-council-defends-decisions-around-river-mouth-opening/ZBBI7DIAWNGHXGUMA3WTAKOK3Q/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=[[Hawke's Bay Today]]|publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702043455/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/timeline-of-a-flood-in-wairoa-hawkes-bay-regional-council-defends-decisions-around-river-mouth-opening/ZBBI7DIAWNGHXGUMA3WTAKOK3Q/|archive-date=2 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pearse |first1=Adam |title=Govt launches review into Wairoa flood response, adds $500,000 to relief fund |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/govt-launches-review-into-wairoa-flood-response-adds-500000-to-relief-fund/Y6EGFMUXBJG43KVHOZHEUUFIXA/ |access-date=14 July 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713040852/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/govt-launches-review-into-wairoa-flood-response-adds-500000-to-relief-fund/Y6EGFMUXBJG43KVHOZHEUUFIXA/ |archive-date=13 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Demographics==
Stats NZ describes Wairoa as a small urban area, which covers {{Convert|7.57|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Wairoa|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Wairoa|y}}|R}}/7.57|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|4,314|2013|4,089|2018|4,527|2023|4,707|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Wairoa (207800)|wairoa|Wairoa}}</ref>}}
Wairoa had a population of 4,707 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 180 people (4.0%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 618 people (15.1%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 2,304 males, 2,394 females, and 9 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 1,620 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1283.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 2.1% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 35.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,173 people (24.9%) aged under 15 years, 870 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,869 (39.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 795 (16.9%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 41.5% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 74.6% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 4.8% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 2.5% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.0%, Māori by 22.2%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 2.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 35.4% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.3% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.6% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 15.6% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 0.2% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.3% [[New Age]], 0.1% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]], and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 40.5%, and 7.3% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 345 (9.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,049 (58.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,140 (32.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 117 people (3.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,476 (41.8%) full-time, 414 (11.7%) part-time, and 174 (4.9%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1283.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Wairoa (1283)}}</ref>

Wairoa had a population of 3348 people in 1951, which increased to 3796 people in 1956 and; 4301 in 1961.<ref name=":0"/>

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Wairoa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–present)
| Jan record high C = 38.0
| Feb record high C = 37.3
| Mar record high C = 33.0
| Apr record high C = 30.6
| May record high C = 26.7
| Jun record high C = 24.7
| Jul record high C = 23.3
| Aug record high C = 24.3
| Sep record high C = 29.6
| Oct record high C = 31.2
| Nov record high C = 34.1
| Dec record high C = 34.5
| year record high C = 38.0
| Jan avg record high C  = 32.2
| Feb avg record high C  = 31.3
| Mar avg record high C  = 28.9
| Apr avg record high C  = 25.8
| May avg record high C  = 23.3
| Jun avg record high C  = 20.0
| Jul avg record high C  = 19.0
| Aug avg record high C  = 19.9
| Sep avg record high C  = 22.8
| Oct avg record high C  = 25.7
| Nov avg record high C  = 27.9
| Dec avg record high C  = 29.6
| year avg record high C = 33.1
|Jan high C = 	25.1
|Feb high C = 	24.5
|Mar high C = 	22.6
|Apr high C = 	19.9
|May high C = 	17.7
|Jun high C = 	15.2
|Jul high C = 	14.2
|Aug high C = 	15.1
|Sep high C = 	17.1
|Oct high C = 	19.4
|Nov high C = 	21.2
|Dec high C = 	23.4
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 	19.4
|Feb mean C = 	19.3
|Mar mean C = 	17.4
|Apr mean C = 	14.9
|May mean C = 	12.5
|Jun mean C = 	10.2
|Jul mean C = 	9.5
|Aug mean C = 	10.2
|Sep mean C = 	12.0
|Oct mean C = 	14.0
|Nov mean C = 	15.8
|Dec mean C = 	18.2
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 	13.8
|Feb low C = 	14.0
|Mar low C = 	12.2
|Apr low C = 	9.9
|May low C = 	7.4
|Jun low C = 	5.2
|Jul low C = 	4.8
|Aug low C = 	5.2
|Sep low C = 	6.8
|Oct low C = 	8.6
|Nov low C = 	10.5
|Dec low C = 	12.9
| year low C = 
| Jan avg record low C  = 7.9
| Feb avg record low C  = 8.4
| Mar avg record low C  = 7.0
| Apr avg record low C  = 4.3
| May avg record low C  = 1.8
| Jun avg record low C  = 0.2
| Jul avg record low C  = 0.0
| Aug avg record low C  = 0.4
| Sep avg record low C  = 1.5
| Oct avg record low C  = 2.9
| Nov avg record low C  = 4.6
| Dec avg record low C  = 7.2
| year avg record low C = -0.4
|Jan record low C  = 4.7
|Feb record low C  = 4.5
|Mar record low C  = 3.5
|Apr record low C  = 0.6
|May record low C  =  -0.9
|Jun record low C  = -2.5
|Jul record low C  = -2.3
|Aug record low C  = -1.6
|Sep record low C  = -0.8
|Oct record low C  = 0.1
|Nov record low C  = -0.2
|Dec record low C  = 3.1
|year record low C = -2.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 	87.3
|Feb rain mm = 	87.7
|Mar rain mm = 	102.6
|Apr rain mm = 	130.7
|May rain mm = 	98.5
|Jun rain mm = 	124.5
|Jul rain mm = 	123.2
|Aug rain mm = 	92.1
|Sep rain mm = 	87.9
|Oct rain mm = 	93.1
|Nov rain mm = 	80.7
|Dec rain mm = 	77.1
|year rain mm = 
|source 1 = NIWA<ref name= NIWA>
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Wairoa, North Clyde Ews
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 3122, 3123, 3124, 3126, 41485)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 Jul 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Economy ==

The meat processing plant in Wairoa was first established in 1916.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=AFFCO Wairoa|url=https://www.affco.co.nz/our-locations/affco-wairoa/|access-date=14 September 2021|website=www.affco.co.nz}}</ref> Originally owned by the Wairoa Co-operative Meat Company, the building was destroyed by a fire on 5 February 1931.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa Freezing Works|url=https://collection.mtghawkesbay.com/objects/80422/wairoa-freezing-works|access-date=14 September 2021|website=MTG Hawkes Bay|language=en}}</ref> The AFFCO group bought it in 1990. The meat processing plant employs around 650 people in their peak season. They process mutton, lamb, goat and beef and export much of the product. There is also a rendering plant onsite producing bone meal and tallow.<ref name=":1" /> In 2015 the [[Employment Court of New Zealand|Employment Court]] deemed a lockout of 170 workers at the plant illegal. Management had locked workers out for five months who refused to sign individual contracts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 November 2015|title=Wairoa meat workers lock out deemed illegal|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/74079717/wairoa-meat-workers-lock-out-deemed-illegal|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=17 February 2016|title=Affco Talley's meatworkers in Wairoa to return to work after five months|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/beef/76985888/affco-talleys-meatworkers-in-wairoa-to-return-to-work-after-five-months|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, the [[Court of Appeal of New Zealand|Court of Appeal]] ruled that those workers locked out should be paid lost wages.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 December 2018|title=Court rules locked out Affco workers must be paid lost wages|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/109167252/court-rules-locked-out-affco-workers-must-be-paid-lost-wages|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> In February 2020, a worker at the plant was killed on the job, crushed by pallets. [[WorkSafe New Zealand|Worksafe]] closed the plant briefly and investigated the incident.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 February 2020|title=Family angry, want answers after father killed at Affco Wairoa meat works|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/119426780/family-speak-out-after-father-killed-at-affco-wairoa-meat-works|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 October 2020|title=Grisly accidents at meat works still 'unacceptably high'|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123005318/grisly-accidents-at-meat-works-still-unacceptably-high|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=15 February 2020|title=Wairoa meat workers to return to factory where man died|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409614/wairoa-meat-workers-to-return-to-factory-where-man-died|access-date=14 September 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

Forestry is playing an increasing role in the economy of Wairoa. Many farms are being converted to forests which earn carbon credits. There are concerns that the loss of farming will shrink the size of the town's economy and lead to depopulation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Local Focus: Wairoa forestry 'scaring the hell out of this community'|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/local-focus-wairoa-forestry-scaring-the-hell-out-of-this-community/PTPCJYC5BVWTWPB6BIBQXBJV3A/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=12 August 2020|title=No 'farming versus forestry approach' for northern Hawke's Bay|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/423366/no-farming-versus-forestry-approach-for-northern-hawke-s-bay|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

In January 2020, the Government announced funding of $6.1 million to support rebuilding in the central business district.  The funding will support a Wairoa Integrated Business and Tourism Facility, a Wairoa Digital Employment Programme and a Wairoa Regional Digital Hub.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilbertson|first=Georgia-May|date=22 January 2020|title=Six million dollars to revamp Wairoa CBD |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/118948975/six-million-dollars-to-revamp-wairoa-cbd |access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

== Amenities and events ==

Since 2005, Wairoa has been host to the annual [[Wairoa Māori Film Festival]], New Zealand's premiere Māori and indigenous film festival, which has hosted film makers from across the nation and around the world. In 2015, the festival began to be hosted in part at the newly revitalised Gaiety Cinema and Theatre, which had recently been fitted out with one of the world's most advanced theatre sound systems.<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 May 2016|title=Film feast at Wairoa Festival|work=The Gisborne Herald|url=https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-news/20160516/film-feast-at-wairoa-festival/|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Webby|first=Kim|date=1 November 2020|title=Postcards from Aotearoa: Why you should visit the Wairoa Māori Film Festival|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/hawkes-bay/300143735/postcards-from-aotearoa-why-you-should-visit-the-wairoa-mori-film-festival|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

The Wairoa  Agricultural & Pastoral Society was established in 1899 and held its first show next to the Frasertown Domain. A variety of events are run at the annual show including rodeo, dog trials, competition sheep shearing, show jumping and other equestrian events.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to Wairoa A&P Show|url=http://www.wairoashow.co.nz/history.htm|access-date=22 September 2021|website=www.wairoashow.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Mark|title=Bumper year for Wairoa Show|url=https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-news/20210118/bumper-year-for-wairoa-show/|access-date=22 September 2021|website=www.gisborneherald.co.nz|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Fun guaranteed at the Wairoa A&P Show|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/fun-guaranteed-at-the-wairoa-ap-show/6ZEGMRHAGCRE2NVZOEFMBTFV2Y/|access-date=22 September 2021|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The 2022 edition, due to be held in January was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa A & P Show cancelled|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/wairoa-a-p-show-cancelled/6GPTK3YZ7UAXAODEMMTYOLEL7U/|access-date=26 November 2021|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

The Wairoa museum, located at 142 Marine Parade, is housed since 2001, in what was the ANZ bank building. The collection focusses on local and Māori history and includes a Māori flag from the Māori land wars in 1865.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa Museum {{!}} New Zealand Attractions|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/the-east-coast/wairoa/attractions/wairoa-museum/a/poi-sig/1163170/1320083|access-date=12 September 2021|website=Lonely Planet|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=NZPlaces|url=https://nzplaces.nz/place/wairoa-district-museum|access-date=12 September 2021|website=nzplaces.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa Museum – Culture History {{!}} Hawke's Bay NZ|url=https://www.hawkesbaynz.com/see-and-do/art-design-and-culture/art-and-design/museums-2/wairoa-museum/|access-date=12 September 2021|website=www.hawkesbaynz.com}}</ref> In 2016, the museum expanded its exhibition space and refurbished the galleries and developed a new interactive "discovery space".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa Museum {{!}} Wairoa District Council|url=https://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/our-district/wairoa-museum/|access-date=12 September 2021|website=www.wairoadc.govt.nz}}</ref>

The Wairoa Centennial Library was built in 1960. It was designed by the Wellington Architectural firm Porker & Martin. The Wairoa Rotary Club raised $20,000 to build an extension to the library in 1974 to house a museum. Further work to the library was completed in 1988 and 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|last=WAIROA DISTRICT COUNCIL|date=3 November 2016|title=Wairoa Centennial Library Proposed Extensions / Alterations|url=https://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/assets/Document-Library/Long-Term-Plan-2018-28/Supporting-Documents-2018-28/Library-report.pdf|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref> The library is located at 212 Marine Parade.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WAIROA|url=https://ent.kotui.org.nz/client/en_AU/wairoa/|access-date=14 September 2021|website=ent.kotui.org.nz}}</ref>

Wairoa is home to two golf courses. The Wairoa Golf Club is located 5 kilometres to the north of central Wairoa.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa Golf Club » Wairoa i-SITE|url=https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/see-and-do/sports/wairoa-golf-club/|access-date=12 September 2021|website=www.visitwairoa.co.nz}}</ref> The Mahia Golf Club is located on the Mahia Peninsula and has a nine-hole course.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahia Golf Club » Wairoa i-SITE|url=https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/see-and-do/sports/mahia-golf-club/|access-date=12 September 2021|website=www.visitwairoa.co.nz}}</ref>

The Wairoa community centre is home to an indoor stadium. Indoor soccer, netball, cricket, badminton, volleyball and basketball can be played. There is also a gym and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool. It is located at 33 Marine Parade.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa Community Centre » Wairoa i-SITE|url=https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/see-and-do/sports/wairoa-community-centre/|access-date=12 September 2021|website=www.visitwairoa.co.nz}}</ref>

==Marae==

The township includes a number of [[marae]] (meeting grounds) and [[wharenui]] (meeting houses) for the local [[iwi]] (tribe) of [[Ngāti Kahungunu]] and its [[hapū]] (sub-tribes).<ref name="tkmentry">{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=[[Te Puni Kōkiri]]}}</ref><ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Marae
!Wharenui
!Affiliated hapū
|-
|Hinemihi 
|Te Poho o Hinemihi 
|[[Ngāti Hinemihi]] 
|-
|Hurumua
|Hurumua Memorial Hall
|[[Ngāi Tānemitirangi]]
|-
|Iwitea
|Te Poho o Tahu
|[[Mātawhaiti]]
|-
|Kihitu
|Te Rauhina
|[[Ngāti Kahu]]
|-
|Ruataniwha
|Te Poho o Riria
|[[Ngāi Te Kapuamātotoru]]
|-
|Taihoa
|Te Otane
|[[Ngāti Kurupakiaka]] and Te Kāwiti
|-
|Tākitimu-Waihirere
|Tākitimu Wharenui
|[[Ngāi Te Apatu]] and Ngāti Moewhare 
|-
| Tawhiti A Maru
| St Therese's Church
| Catholic church<ref name="journeyfaith">{{cite web |title=A Journey of Faith: He Hikoi Whakapono |url=https://pndiocese.org.nz/news-and-events/a-journey-of-faith-he-hikoi-whakapono/ |website=pndiocese.org.nz |publisher=Diocese of Palmerston North}}</ref>
|-
|Te Mira, Whetū Mārama and Mill Pā
|Mākoro
|[[Ngāti Mākoro]]
|-
|Whaakirangi
|Whaakirangi
|[[Ngāti Mātangirau]]
|-
|Arimawha
|Te Poho o Hinetu, Ko Amiria
|[[Ngāti Hinetu]]
|-
|Rangiāhua
|Te Poho o Tama te Rangi
|[[Ngai Tama Te Rangi]]
|-
|Pākōwhai
|Te Huinga o te Aroha
|[[Ngāti Mihi]]
|}
In October 2020, the Government committed $1,949,075 from the [[Provincial Growth Fund]] to upgrade Ruataniwha, Hinemihi, Hurumua, Iwitea, Kihitu, Taihoa, Tākitimu-Waihirere, Tawhiti A Maru, Te Mira and Whakakī, and 14 other Ngāti Kahungunu marae, creating 164 jobs.<ref name="maraepgf">{{cite web |title=Marae Announcements |url=https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx |website=growregions.govt.nz |publisher=[[Provincial Growth Fund]] |format=Excel |date=9 October 2020}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

=== The three waters ===
In 2020, the [[Wairoa District Council]] applied to the Regional Council for resource consents for the Wairoa town wastewater scheme.  Wastewater is discharged to an estuary in the lower reaches of the Wairoa River, through an outfall about 100 metres from the shore.  A panel of independent commissioners reviewing the application noted that the discharge to water is not culturally acceptable to the community, but that land-based discharge is currently unaffordable and the council has not secured suitable land. The review concluded that the town "had a very significant problem" and urged the council to get help from central government.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sharpe|first=Marty|date=14 December 2020|title=Commissioners tell council it has 'very significant problem' in failing sewerage plant|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/300182543/commissioners-tell-council-it-has-very-significant-problem-in-failing-sewerage-plant|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

During 2021, the Government consulted with regional and district councils about proposed major reforms for the three waters sector nationwide, involving the proposed transfer of assets from 67 local authorities to four new large entities.  The mayor of Wairoa, Craig Little criticised the proposed reforms and expressed concerns about the loss of local representation and control.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Angeloni|first=Alice|date=30 June 2021|title=Three Waters reforms slammed|work=The Gisborne Herald|url=https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-news/20210630/three-waters-reforms-slammed/|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

=== Hospital ===
Wairoa Hospital (Te Hauora o te Wairoa / Wairoa Health) is a 12-bed hospital that provides both maternity and acute medical inpatient beds. It is run by the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wairoa Hospital & Health Centre|url=https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/certified-providers/public-hospital/wairoa-hospital-health-centre|access-date=12 September 2021|website=Ministry of Health NZ|language=en}}</ref> Also located at Te Hauora o te Wairoa / Wairoa Health is a general practice, an emergency department (level 2), radiology and laboratory services, mental health and addiction services and a number of outpatient clinics.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2015|title=Wairoa Health|url=http://www.ourhealthhb.nz/hospital-services/find-a-hospital-or-health-centre-near-you/wairoa-health/|access-date=12 September 2021|website=Hawkes Bay District Health Board|language=en}}</ref> it is located at 36 Kitchener Street, Wairoa.

=== Transport ===
The [[Wairoa Aerodrome|Wairoa airport]] is located on Airport Road on the northern side of Wairoa. The runway is 914 metres long. The airport is home to the Wairoa Aero Club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Airport {{!}} Wairoa District Council|url=https://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/services/airport/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=www.wairoadc.govt.nz}}</ref>

Wairoa is connected south west to Napier and north east to Gisborne by [[State Highway 2 (New Zealand)|State Highway 2]]. Connecting Wairoa to the northwest is [[State Highway 38 (New Zealand)|State Highway 38]] which travels past [[Lake Waikaremoana]] where it joins [[State Highway 5 (New Zealand)|State Highway 5]].

The Napier to Gisborne section of the [[Palmerston North-Gisborne Line|Palmerston North-Gisborne railway line]] was mothballed in 2012 after being damaged by a storm. It was repaired and reopened between Napier and Wairoa in January 2020 with funding of $6.2 million from the [[Provincial Growth Fund]]. Freight services ran to transport logs to [[Napier Port]]. The service was suspended after six return trips as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on the forestry sector. It reopened in November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Napier to Wairoa|url=https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/what-we-do/projects/napier-to-wairoa/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=KiwiRail|language=en-US|archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026084858/https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/what-we-do/projects/napier-to-wairoa/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 October 2020|title=Much lauded restart of Napier-Wairoa railway line only ran for a week|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/428838/much-lauded-restart-of-napier-wairoa-railway-line-only-ran-for-a-week|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 November 2020|title=Wairoa-Napier log trains get back on track|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/431140/wairoa-napier-log-trains-get-back-on-track|access-date=21 September 2021|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

== Notable buildings ==

St Andrew's Church (Presbyterian-Methodist) is located at 98 Queen Street. It is a category two historic place.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} St Andrew's Church (Presbyterian-Methodist) {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/4867|access-date=15 September 2021|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref> it was most likely built between 1932 and 1935.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Architectural plan, St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Wairoa|url=https://collection.mtghawkesbay.com/objects/21134/architectural-plan-st-andrews-presbyterian-church-wairoa|access-date=15 September 2021|website=MTG Hawkes Bay|language=en}}</ref>

St Peter's Catholic Church is located at 64 Queen Street. It is a category two historic place. One of the oldest buildings in Wairoa, it was completed in 1882. Built out of timber, it is an important example of New Zealand Gothic Revival church architecture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} St Peter's Church (Catholic) {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/1069|access-date=15 September 2021|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref>

The Wairoa Meat Company building, located on Marine Parade, is a category two Historic Place.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} Wairoa Meat Company Building (Former) {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/4861|access-date=16 September 2021|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref> Built between 1915 and 1920, highlights the long association between Wairoa and the meat processing industry. It survived the 1931 Napier earthquake and in 2020 received a $200,000 grant for seismic strengthening.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quake grant aid for century-old building|url=https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-news/20200807/quake-grant-aid-for-century-old-building/|access-date=16 September 2021|website=www.gisborneherald.co.nz|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Wairoa County Chambers, located on Queen Street, is a category two Historic Place.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} County Chambers {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/2775|access-date=16 September 2021|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref>

The Gaiety Cinema and Theatre, located at 252 Marine Parade was built in 1925. It was destroyed in the [[1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake|1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake]]. It was subsequently rebuilt in 1932 in an [[Art Deco]] style. It has hosted many events including screenings of movies, concerts, political rallies and boxing matches. It closed in 1960 and was used for a variety of purposes including as a supermarket and basketball court. In 1998, work was completed to restore it to its former use as a cinema and theatre and it was reopened in 2000. Finances forced it to close in 2009. It reopened in 2015 with support from the Wairoa District Council. It has a capacity of 250 patrons.<ref name="NZHPT 4862">{{NZHPT|4862|Gaiety Cinema and Theatre|10 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gaiety Cinema & Theatre (Wairoa)|url=https://www.cinemasofnz.info/gaiety-cinema-theatre-wairoa.html|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Cinemas of New Zealand|language=en}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="140" caption="Notable buildings">
File:St Andrew's Church - Wairoa.jpg|St Andrew's Church
File:St. Peter's Church, Wairoa.jpg|St Peter's Church
File:Wairoa County Council Building 1902.jpg|Wairoa County Chambers (1902)
File:Gaiety Cinema and Theatre, Wairoa.jpg|Gaiety Cinema and Theatre
</gallery>

==Education==

[[Wairoa College]] is a Year 7–13 state high school.<ref name="official">{{cite web |title=Official School Website |url=http://www.wairoacollege.org |website=wairoacollege.org}}</ref><ref name="moe">{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=214 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> It is a [[Socioeconomic decile|decile 1]] school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|214|y}}.<ref name="ero">{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/214/wairoa-college |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> It opened on the present site in 1910 as Wairoa District High School, and became Wairoa College in 1954. It included years 7 and 8 in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wairoacollege.school.nz/our-school/history-1|title=History|publisher=Wairoa College|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref>

Wairoa Primary School is a Year 1–6 state primary school.<ref name="moe2">{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=1668 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> It is a [[Socioeconomic decile|decile 2]] school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1668|y}}.<ref name="ero2">{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/1668/wairoa-primary-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> It opened on the current site in 1954. Before this, primary education was provided by the District High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wairoaprimary.school.nz/about|title=About Us|publisher=Wairoa Primary School|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> North Clyde School, established {{circa|1931}}, merged to Wairoa Primary School at the end of 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/tears-flow-at-school-break-up/WGAZ6VBLNX6K57DPPB7XTPVGJQ/|title=Tears flow at school break-up|newspaper=[[Hawkes Bay Today]]|date=14 December 2004|first=Kathy|last=Webb}}</ref>

Tiaho Primary School is a Year 1–6 state primary school.<ref name="moe3">{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=1669 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> It is a [[Socioeconomic decile|decile 2]] school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1669|y}}.<ref name="ero3">{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/1669/tiaho-primary-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> The school was formed in 2005 by the merger of Hillneath and Turiroa schools on the Hillneath site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tiaho.school.nz/our-school/|title=Our School|publisher=Tiaho Primary School|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> Wairoa Intermediate School had merged with Hillneath in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://library.victoria.ac.nz/databases/nzgazettearchive/pubs/gazettes/1997/1997%20ISSUE%20008.pdf|title=Merger of Hillneath School and Wairoa Intermediate School|publisher=New Zealand Government|date=21 January 1997|first=Wyatt|last=Creech|authorlink=Wyatt Creech|page=186}}</ref>

TKKM o Ngati Kahungunu o Te Wairoa is a Year 1–13 Māori immersion school.<ref name="moe4">{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=1616 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> It is a [[Socioeconomic decile|decile 1]] school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1616|y}}.<ref name="ero4">{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/1616/tkkm-o-ngati-kahungunu-o-te-wairoa |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> It opened in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reweti.tripod.com/id1.html|title=Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref>

St Joseph's School is a Year 1–8 is a state integrated Catholic primary school.<ref name="moe5">{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=2679 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> It is a [[Socioeconomic decile|decile 3]] school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2679|y}}.<ref name="ero5">{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/2679/st-josephs-school-wairoa |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> It opened in 1911.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sjwairoa.school.nz/|title=Nau Mai Haere Mai, Welcome to St Joseph's School|publisher=St Joseph's School|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref>

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

==Notable people==
* [[Ethan Browne]], actor
* [[Bronwyn Elsmore]], writer and religious studies lecturer
* [[Derek Fox (broadcaster)|Derek Fox]], broadcaster and former mayor of Wairoa
* [[Pana Hema Taylor]], actor
* [[Katarina Kawana]], musician
* [[Esme Tombleson]], politician
* [[Mere Whaanga]], author and historian

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage}}
* [http://wairoa.net/ Wairoa Help and Information Centre]
* [https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/ Wairoa i-SITE Visitor Information Centre]

{{Wairoa District}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wairoa| ]]
[[Category:Whaling stations in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Whaling in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Populated places in Hawke's Bay]]
[[Category:Populated places around Hawke Bay]]