Waipatiki Beach

Waipatiki Beach is a small coastal village in Napier District, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. It is situated in a little valley at the end of a road that branches off the main road from Napier to Gisborne (SH 2) and that finally, after 11 km, leads to a small sandy beach; first Tangoio Rd, then Waipatiki Rd. Waipatiki Beach lies nearly exactly north of Napier, some 20 km, as the crow flies, and is a small beach side community with alternative lifestyle residents (43 households in 2005). There are also many holidaymakers over the summer period.

Outside the village lies the commercially exploited Waipatiki forest, but close to the village are some important remnants of protected native bush. There is also a small campsite, the Waipatiki Beach Farm Park.

“Waipātiki” means “water of the flounder” in Māori. It was once an estuarine valley, well populated in pre-European times because the estuary was a rich source of flounder Rhombosolea plebeia. The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake lifted the flats and a stream system formed.

Waipatiki Domain is situated at the edge of the village on the northern side of the valley off the beach road. This is an area of regenerated native New Zealand bush. The area is fenced (to protect it against goats) and a pest control program is set up to eradicate possums. This kind of coastal bush is hard to find in Hawke's Bay these days. The forest is dominated by kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides). Some of these are thought to be around 400 years old. Two very large trees are perhaps 600 years old. The larger tree has a circumference of 7.4 metres. The tracks through the domain lead you through impressive archways formed by the fronds of the nikau palm (Rhopalostylis sapida). Tītoki Alectryon excelsus, karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus) and kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum) are also present. Birds found in the domain include tui, bellbird, fantail, kererū, grey warbler, shining cuckoo and morepork. There is a 15-minute walk through the domain. There is a side walk up the hill with a view overlooking the valley. The Domain is managed by Hastings District Council.

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