Central Hawke’s Bay District covers an area of 333,450 hectares with a population of 12,948.  It covers the area from Pukehou, north to Takapau, south, and from the western Ruahine ranges to the eastern coast.  Each of the four corners of the district has a marae.  These are: Pukehou, Kairakau, Rongo Maraeroa (at Porangahau) and Rakautatahi (at Takapau).

There are two main towns in Central Hawke’s Bay - Waipukurau and Waipawa - with a number of smaller townships including Otane, Takapau, Tikokino, Porangahau and Ongaonga; as well as several beach townships including Kairakau, Pourerere, Aramoana, Blackhead and Te Paerahi.

State Highway 2 runs through the centre of Central Hawke’s Bay leading south to Palmerston North and the Wairarapa and north to Hastings and Napier.  The nearest north and south cities to Waipukurau are Hastings, 50 kilometres, and Palmerston North, 108 kilometres.  It is 70 kilometres to Napier Port and 75 kilometres to Napier Airport.  The railway runs through Central Hawke’s Bay with one station at Waipukurau.  This is the main line running from Wellington, via Palmerston North, to Napier. 

Detailed information on the population of Central Hawke’s Bay can be found on the Department of Statistics Website

Tourist information can be found on the CHB Promotions website and the Hawkes Bay Tourism website.