Te Awanga

Te Awanga
Town
Maraetotara River mouth
Coordinates: 39°38′S 176°59′E / 39.633°S 176.983°E / -39.633; 176.983
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay
Territorial authority	Hastings District
Ward	Heretaunga General Ward Takitimu Māori Ward
Electorates	Tukituki Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Hastings District Council
• Regional council	Hawke's Bay Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	1.33 km2 (0.51 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	750
• Density	560/km2 (1,500/sq mi)

Te Awanga is a small rural beachside town in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Te Awanga is near Cape Kidnappers, which has a renowned colony of the Australasian gannet.^[3]

Te Awanga town is just smaller than Haumoana, which is further along the beach towards Napier. The town was developed as a holiday settlement. There are shops, cafes and wineries located nearby to the town. Activities which are common at Te Awanga include fishing, swimming, surfing and boating. Surfing is popular when large easterly swells move into Hawke Bay. The 18 hole world-famous Cape Kidnappers Golf Course is located near Te Awanga.^[4]

Te Awanga is located at 39°S 177°E on Hawke Bay on the east coast of New Zealand. The town is located sixteen kilometres south of the centre of Napier and twelve kilometres east of the centre of Hastings. It is ten kilometres west of Cape Kidnappers. The road towards Cape Kidnappers, Clifton Road, passes through Te Awanga on its way to Clifton. The Maraetotara River mouth is at Te Awanga.

Te Awanga is located in an area which can be prone to coastal erosion. The Te Awanga shoreline can be eroded by stormy seas and high tides. The long term shoreline retreat is due to erosion caused by the sea at Te Awanga is on average between 0.30m and 0.70m per year. However, this rate was challenged and debunked in court circa 1988.^[5]