Whakatu, Hawke's Bay

Whakatu
Rural community
Map
Coordinates: 39°36′22″S 176°53′31″E / 39.606°S 176.892°E / -39.606; 176.892
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawke's Bay
Territorial authorityHastings District
Ward
  • Heretaunga General Ward
  • Takitimu Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityHastings District Council
 • Regional councilHawke's Bay Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total2.71 km2 (1.05 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total680
 • Density250/km2 (650/sq mi)

Whakatu is a rural community in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north-east of the centre of Hastings.[3] A large industrial area is enclosed by a bend in the Clive River, and the closure of the freezing works in Whakatu in 1986 cost the region 2000 full-time and seasonal jobs.[4] State Highway 2 and the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line pass through Whakatu.

Richard Tucker (1856–1922) was a notable resident of Whakatu; he owned the largest wool-scouring plant in the Hawke's Bay Region.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Whakatu, Hawke's Bay". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  4. ^ Pollock, Kerryn (24 April 2015). "Hawke's Bay region - Pastoral farming". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  5. ^ Wright, Matthew. "Richard Tucker". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.