Last updated October 2026
Te Awa is a coastal suburb on the eastern side of Napier, positioned between the central business district and Napier-Hastings Airport. It features a distinctive mix of 1920s railway workers’ cottages that survived the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, 1960s and 1970s Art Deco homes, and ongoing 21st-century residential subdivisions.
The suburb has seen steady residential expansion in recent years while retaining its layered housing character. Its location provides convenient access to the CBD, beaches along Marine Parade, and local schools including Te Awa School and Napier Boys’ High School.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 830, up 40% since 2018
- Land area
- 1.02 km²
- Location
- 2.9 km south of central Napier
- Council
- Napier City Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Meeanee, Awatoto, Marewa, Napier South
- Ward or local board
- Nelson Park Ward (Napier City Council)
- Nearby landmarks
- Alexander Park, Te Awa Park, Marine Parade Walkway, Awatoto Beach
Who Lives in Te Awa
About 830 residents in 300 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
Schools in Te Awa
Three schools sit inside the Te Awa boundary. Most have an enrolment zone, so check an address is in zone before you buy or rent.
Also zoned for Te Awa
Show all 4 zoned schools
Zones change, so confirm with the school before relying on one.
Bin Day in Te Awa
by 7am on collection day
Streets near a suburb edge can differ, so check the council lookup if unsure.
Streets in Te Awa
11 streets are in Te Awa. Search any street in Napier to see which suburb it is in.
Show all 11 streets in Te Awa
- A
- Arrow Place
- C
- Chambers Street
- Creagh Street
- E
- Eriksen Road
- H
- Hurunui Drive
- K
- Kaituna Place
- M
- Manganui Place
- R
- Ruakituri Place
- S
- State Highway 51
- T
- Te Awa Avenue
- W
- Waimakariri Drive
A long road is listed in each suburb it runs through.
Safety and Hazards
Buses from Te Awa
4 bus stops inside the suburb.
Typical weekday daytime frequency.
Handy Facilities
Weather and Rent at a Glance
City-wide figures.
In Te Awa
Places and businesses inside the official Te Awa boundary.
Places
About Te Awa
Te Awa occupies the eastern coastal flats of Napier in the Hawke’s Bay region.
Te Awa occupies the eastern coastal flats of Napier in the Hawke’s Bay region. The suburb’s name translates as “the valley” according to the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Its housing stock reflects multiple eras of development, beginning with small 1920s timber cottages built for railway workers that largely withstood the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake due to their size and construction. Mid-century infill introduced Art Deco style homes in the 1960s and 1970s, while recent decades have brought new subdivisions that have expanded the residential footprint.
The Kenny Road development released sections that sold out within two days in late 2020, with titles issued in August 2021. Eriksen Road continues to host expanding residential subdivisions, including the Summerset Palms retirement village at 136 Eriksen Road. These projects have contributed to Te Awa’s reputation as one of Napier’s growing coastal residential areas.
Residents benefit from proximity to Napier Boys’ High School and Te Awa School, which opened in 1925. The suburb also includes local parks such as Alexander Park and Te Awa Park, plus a playground with swings, climbing frames and other equipment. Ongoing stormwater improvement projects support the area’s development.
Te Awa functions primarily as a residential community rather than a primary tourist destination. Its appeal for residents and visitors alike lies in the combination of coastal setting, short drives to the Art Deco CBD and airport, and access to the wider Hawke’s Bay Trails cycling network.
Surrounding Attractions
The Marine Parade Walkway offers a sealed coastal path suitable for walking and cycling, with easy access from Te Awa.
The Marine Parade Walkway offers a sealed coastal path suitable for walking and cycling, with easy access from Te Awa. Awatoto Beach lies to the south and attracts locals for fishing and coastal recreation. Napier-Hastings Airport is a short drive away, providing convenient regional connections.
Further north along Marine Parade visitors can reach the National Aquarium of New Zealand and Pandora Pond for water sports. The suburb connects to the broader Rotary Pathway and Hawke’s Bay Trails system, allowing cyclists to travel toward Hastings and Havelock North.
Near Te Awa
Just outside Te Awa, within 5 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Show 2 more places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia: Te Awa, Napier: Detailed suburb profile including demographics, history and education facilities.
Summerset Palms: Official information on the retirement village located at 136 Eriksen Road in Te Awa.
Greenstone Land: Kenny Road: Developer details on the Kenny Road subdivision stages and sales history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Te Awa?
About 830 people lived in Te Awa at the 2023 Census, up 40% since 2018. See Who Lives in Te Awa
Which schools are zoned for Te Awa?
The zones of Napier Intermediate, Napier Boys' High School and St Joseph's Maori Girls' College cover all of Te Awa. Meeanee School, Te Awa School and Taradale Intermediate have zones covering part of it. Zones change, so check an address with the school. See Schools in Te Awa
What day is rubbish collected in Te Awa?
Tuesday (recycling Monday). Bins go out by 7am on collection day. Streets near the edge of the suburb can differ, so check the council lookup if unsure. See Bin Day in Te Awa
What buses run from Te Awa?
Route 11, about hourly. There are 4 stops in the suburb. See Buses from Te Awa
Is Te Awa in a tsunami or flood zone?
All of Te Awa is inside the tsunami evacuation zone, and about 10% of its land is in the council's mapped flood areas. A long or strong earthquake means move to high ground or inland straight away. Check a street on the council flood map before you buy. See Safety and Hazards
Which suburbs are next to Te Awa?
What is the housing character of Te Awa?
A mix of 1920s railway workers' cottages that survived the 1931 earthquake, 1960s and 1970s Art Deco homes, and newer 21st-century subdivisions.
What developments are underway in Te Awa?
The Kenny Road subdivision sold out quickly in 2020, Eriksen Road continues to expand with residential sections, and Summerset Palms operates a retirement village at 136 Eriksen Road.
What recreational options exist near Te Awa?
The Marine Parade Walkway, Awatoto Beach, local parks including Alexander Park and Te Awa Park, and connections to the Hawke's Bay Trails cycling network.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Napier only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Te Awa is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.
Sources and data notes 9
- Official Suburb Facts: Boundary, area and neighbours: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. Population: Stats NZ 2023 Census usually resident population, CC BY 4.0, summed from the statistical areas inside the boundary.
- Who Lives in Te Awa: Stats NZ 2023 Census, CC BY 4.0. Figures are summed from the census areas inside the official Te Awa boundary. Percentages are of the people or homes that answered each question; a figure is left out when fewer than 100 answered.
- Schools in Te Awa: Ministry of Education school directory and enrolment zones (CC BY 4.0 and CC BY 3.0 NZ), October 2026.
- Bin Day in Te Awa: Napier City Council collection areas.
- Streets in Te Awa: LINZ NZ Addresses road data, CC BY 4.0.
- Safety and Hazards: Hawke's Bay tsunami evacuation zone (August 2026); Hawke's Bay Regional Council flood risk areas.
- Buses from Te Awa: goBay (Hawke's Bay Regional Council) timetable data, CC BY 4.0.
- Handy Facilities: Napier City Council public toilets; NZTA EVRoam charging sites.
- Weather and Rent at a Glance: NIWA climate averages 1991-2020 (via Figure.NZ); Tenancy Services rental bond data (MBIE), CC BY 4.0, September 2025 to August 2026.