Waitangi Regional Park

About

Ngāti Kahungunu occupied the area prior to colonisation. Waitangi Mission Station was set up on the north bank of the Ngaruroro River for the Church Missionary Society by William Colenso in 1844. Awatoto was included in the sale of the 265,000 acres (107,000 ha) Ahuriri Block for £1,500 on 17 November 1851. A soap works was set up in 1883. It burnt down in 1910 and 1915 and was flooded in 1917. Settlement of the area dates from the late 1800s, although population was minimal until the post-war years. Meeanee developed as a small settlement in the 1940s and 1950s, servicing the surrounding dairy farms. The population increased from the mid-1990s, a result of new dwellings being added to the area.

Awatoto railway station was near Awatoto Road, opened on 20 June 1884. In 1880 authority was sought for £45 to be spent building a station and platform at Awatoto. It was a flag station, on the first 18.8 km (11.7 mi) section of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line, which opened on 12 October 1874, from Napier to Hastings. The line was built by international contractors John Brogden and Sons. They organised the first train carrying passengers from Napier to Waitangi on Tuesday 30 June 1874.

By 1896 Awatoto had a shelter shed, platform, cart approach and a passing loop for 18 wagons, extended to 23 in 1898, 45 in 1911 and 100 in 1954. In 1914 it became a tablet station and a railway house was built for the tablet man. In 1972 a new crossing loop was built nearer Waitangi bridge. On 31 January 1982 Awatoto closed to goods, except in wagon loads, and to passengers. It closed completely on 22 September 1986. Only a single track now runs through the former station site.

Awatoto railway station was near Awatoto Road, opened on 20 June 1884. In 1880 authority was sought for £45 to be spent building a station and platform at Awatoto. It was a flag station, on the first 18.8 km (11.7 mi) section of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line, which opened on 12 October 1874, from Napier to Hastings. The line was built by international contractors John Brogden and Sons. They organised the first train carrying passengers from Napier to Waitangi on Tuesday 30 June 1874.

By 1896 Awatoto had a shelter shed, platform, cart approach and a passing loop for 18 wagons, extended to 23 in 1898, 45 in 1911 and 100 in 1954. In 1914 it became a tablet station and a railway house was built for the tablet man. In 1972 a new crossing loop was built nearer Waitangi bridge. On 31 January 1982 Awatoto closed to goods, except in wagon loads, and to passengers. It closed completely on 22 September 1986. Only a single track now runs through the former station site.

Awatoto is on a flood plain, separated from the Pacific Ocean by a shingle spit, just north of where the Clive, Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri River estuaries meet Hawke Bay. Until the 1931 earthquake the Tutaekuri flowed north to Ahuriri Lagoon, but a diversion was built from 1934, diverting the river from 3 June 1936. The Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme, with stop banking, pumps and gravel and river mouth management, helps control floodwaters, but they can still reach the underside of bridges, requiring closures.

Awatoto is some 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the Napier city centre at 39°S 176°E, on the coast of Hawke's Bay. State Highway 51 (until 1 August 2019 it was SH2) passes through Awatoto, along the coastline between Napier and Hastings. A cycleway opened from Bluff Hill to Awatoto in 2004. It was extended south in 2016, over a 300 m (980 ft) long x 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) wide, 145 tonne, steel, clip-on bridge.

The coast at Awatoto is mostly used for fishing. Water activities take place at the Awatoto river mouth just south of the industrial area.

From about 1861 a road ran along the beach, with a punt to cross the estuary. Following sea erosion of the beach, a new bridge was built in 1865. Undermined piles closed the bridge in 1867. It was rebuilt in 1897. The bridge was closed for a fortnight in 1905, when temporary piles gave way under a traction engine. Spans washed out in a 1918 flood. It collapsed under 2 trucks in 1928. Four piers were undermined in May 1938, closing the bridge until September, though people and vehicles continued to use it for a time.

The rail bridge was originally built in 1873. One source says it is 293 m (961 ft) long, but a 1962 advert for its replacement said the overall length was 1,080 ft (330 m) on 27 continuous reinforced concrete spans of 40 ft (12 m) on concrete filled piers, each pier having 3 x 2 ft (0.61 m) octagonal piles with a nominal length of about 75 ft (23 m).

In February 2023 the rail bridge at Awatoto was wiped out by Cyclone Gabrielle. It reopened on 15 September 2023, though the fibre cable it carried was temporarily moved to the road bridge next day. The replacement bridge rests on 12 piles of 35 m (38 yd) to 43 m (47 yd) depth. In 2026 they will be protected from erosion by rip-rap.

Waitangi Regional Park covers about 300 ha (740 acres) and extends about 5 km (3.1 mi) along the coast between Awatoto and Haumoana. The area is home to several species of seabirds and water fowl such as herons, spoonbills, godwits, and gannets. A 6 ha (15 acres) wetland was created in 2009, and in 2015 an adjacent 15 ha (37 acres) wetland was re-established, also providing a habitat for native fish species.

In 2017, the Ātea a Rangi star compass was installed just north of the bridge over the Ngaruroro River. The circle of carved wooden posts (pou) represents the points of the compass and symbolises the navigational skills of ancient Pacific Island explorers who navigated the oceans to arrive here and settle in the area. The celestial compass is also used to pass the art of Whakatere waka (traditional navigation) to new generations.

From about 1861 a road ran along the beach, with a punt to cross the estuary. Following sea erosion of the beach, a new bridge was built in 1865. Undermined piles closed the bridge in 1867. It was rebuilt in 1897. The bridge was closed for a fortnight in 1905, when temporary piles gave way under a traction engine. Spans washed out in a 1918 flood. It collapsed under 2 trucks in 1928. Four piers were undermined in May 1938, closing the bridge until September, though people and vehicles continued to use it for a time.

The rail bridge was originally built in 1873. One source says it is 293 m (961 ft) long, but a 1962 advert for its replacement said the overall length was 1,080 ft (330 m) on 27 continuous reinforced concrete spans of 40 ft (12 m) on concrete filled piers, each pier having 3 x 2 ft (0.61 m) octagonal piles with a nominal length of about 75 ft (23 m).

In February 2023 the rail bridge at Awatoto was wiped out by Cyclone Gabrielle. It reopened on 15 September 2023, though the fibre cable it carried was temporarily moved to the road bridge next day. The replacement bridge rests on 12 piles of 35 m (38 yd) to 43 m (47 yd) depth. In 2026 they will be protected from erosion by rip-rap.

From about 1861 a road ran along the beach, with a punt to cross the estuary. Following sea erosion of the beach, a new bridge was built in 1865. Undermined piles closed the bridge in 1867. It was rebuilt in 1897. The bridge was closed for a fortnight in 1905, when temporary piles gave way under a traction engine. Spans washed out in a 1918 flood. It collapsed under 2 trucks in 1928. Four piers were undermined in May 1938, closing the bridge until September, though people and vehicles continued to use it for a time.

The rail bridge was originally built in 1873. One source says it is 293 m (961 ft) long, but a 1962 advert for its replacement said the overall length was 1,080 ft (330 m) on 27 continuous reinforced concrete spans of 40 ft (12 m) on concrete filled piers, each pier having 3 x 2 ft (0.61 m) octagonal piles with a nominal length of about 75 ft (23 m).

In February 2023 the rail bridge at Awatoto was wiped out by Cyclone Gabrielle. It reopened on 15 September 2023, though the fibre cable it carried was temporarily moved to the road bridge next day. The replacement bridge rests on 12 piles of 35 m (38 yd) to 43 m (47 yd) depth. In 2026 they will be protected from erosion by rip-rap.

covers about 300 ha (740 acres) and extends about 5 km (3.1 mi) along the coast between Awatoto and Haumoana. The area is home to several species of seabirds and water fowl such as herons, spoonbills, godwits, and gannets. A 6 ha (15 acres) wetland was created in 2009, and in 2015 an adjacent 15 ha (37 acres) wetland was re-established, also providing a habitat for native fish species.