Central Hawke's Bay District
Central Hawke's Bay District is in the Hawke's Bay Region in the North Island of New Zealand. Formed in 1989, it covers an area of 3,333 square kilometres, from Pukehou in the north to Takapau in the south, and from the western Ruahine Range to the Pacific coast in the east. It has a population of up from 14,142 in the 2018 census and 12,717 in the 2013 census.
Geography
The two main towns are Waipukurau and Waipawa, which are just apart. Smaller townships include Ōtāne, Takapau, Tikokino and Ongaonga. There are also several small beach communities, including Kairakau, Pourerere, Aramoana, Blackhead and Pōrangahau.There is a marae in each of the four corners of the district, at Pukehou, Kairakau, Pōrangahau and Takapau.
Local government
The district is administered by the Central Hawke's Bay District Council, which was formed through the 1989 local government reforms by amalgamating Waipukurau District Council and the Waipawa District Council. The district is divided into two wards: Ruataniwha is an urban ward based on the towns of Waipukurau and Waipawa; Aramoana-Ruahine is a largely rural ward. The council seat is in Waipawa.Demographics
Central Hawke's Bay District covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.Central Hawke's Bay District had a population of 15,480 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,338 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,763 people since the 2013 census. There were 7,560 males, 7,881 females and 39 people of other genders in 5,949 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.5 years. There were 3,150 people aged under 15 years, 2,181 aged 15 to 29, 6,861 aged 30 to 64, and 3,288 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.9% European ; 25.2% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 2.9% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori language by 5.2%, Samoan by 0.6% and other languages by 4.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.0%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 32.1% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 2.0% [Religion of Māori people|Māori people|Māori religious beliefs], 0.3% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.7%, and 7.3% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,518 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 7,218 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 3,117 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 804 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 6,273 people were employed full-time, 1,725 were part-time, and 279 were unemployed.
| Name | Area | Population | Density | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Aramoana-Ruahine Ward | 3,272.94 | 7,725 | 2.4 | 2,853 | 42.9 years | $40,600 |
| Ruataniwha Ward | 59.97 | 7,758 | 129.4 | 3,093 | 44.1 years | $37,300 |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |