Whakatu is a suburb of Hastings, New Zealand, located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north-east of its centre. 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.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.
Coordinates: 39°36′22″S 176°53′31″E / 39.606°S 176.892°E