Last updated October 2026
Waiohiki is a rural village in Hastings District, south of Taradale and north of Hastings, on State Highway 50 between the Tūtaekurī and Ngaruroro rivers. It is often reached from Napier, but it is not part of Napier City: Hastings District Council is the territorial authority. There is no town centre.
The landmarks that define the settlement are Waiohiki Marae, Napier Golf Club and the river bridge that links the village with Taradale.
The place has a quiet, open character, with the highway as the main thread through houses, the marae and the golf course. A temporary bridge is open after flood damage, so the crossing toward Napier can be used while a permanent replacement is designed.
Practical Information
- Ward or local board
- Heretaunga General Ward and Takitimu Māori Ward, Hastings District
- Getting there
- State Highway 50 and Waiohiki Road. The Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge crosses the Tūtaekurī toward Taradale and Napier. A temporary bridge is open while the permanent replacement is designed.
- Nearby landmarks
- Waiohiki Marae, Napier Golf Club, Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge, Tūtaekurī River
About Waiohiki
The Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge lost its central spans during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, and parts of Waiohiki were flooded when the Ngaruroro burst its banks. Houses were destroyed, and one person died after being swept away by floodwater. A temporary staging bridge, opened in August 2023, restored the crossing and is still in use.
Hastings District Council and Napier City Council have confirmed a preferred alignment for a new bridge immediately upstream of the existing crossing, slightly skewed from the present line. The project is being developed with mana whenua using Te Aranga design principles, and construction depends on final approvals and funding.
Waiohiki sits on the Heretaunga Plains side of the Tūtaekurī, with the Ngaruroro forming the other river boundary of this rural locality. State Highway 50 runs through the village and continues toward Hastings.
The settlement is small: a marae, a golf course, scattered houses and rural land, rather than shops, a main street or a suburban grid. People living here use Taradale, Napier and Hastings for everyday services.
Waiohiki Marae stands at 44 Waiohiki Road. Māori Maps records it as a marae of Ngāti Pārau, a hapū of Ngāti Kahungunu, connected to the waka Takitimu, the maunga Hikurangi and Ōtātara, and the awa Tūtaekurī.
The wharenui is Hau-Te-Ana-Nui. Hastings District Council lists the marae at 40–44 Waiohiki Road. It is a living community place, not a public drop-in attraction, and visits should be arranged with the marae.
Napier Golf Club, known as Waiohiki, occupies land on Korokipo Road and State Highway 50. The club dates its opening to 1896 and describes itself as the oldest golf club in Hawke’s Bay. It hosted the first New Zealand Open in 1907.
The course is an 18-hole championship layout, with a pro shop, restaurant and bar, and it is one of the few places in the village set up for casual visitors.
Getting Around
The practical way in from Napier is across the Tūtaekurī on the Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge, then onto State Highway 50. From the Hastings side, the same highway runs north through the village. Waiohiki Road leads off the highway to the marae.
Korokipo Road is the address for the golf club. Links Road and Springfield Road meet the network near the bridge, and both councils have treated those intersections, along with road safety through the village, as part of planning for the permanent crossing.
The original bridge, built in 1933, was jointly owned by Hastings District Council and Napier City Council. It was one of three bridges lost on the Tūtaekurī in Cyclone Gabrielle.
The temporary crossing has a limited design life, so drivers should expect the layout to change as the permanent bridge is designed and built. There is no town-centre car park to aim for. Parking for a visit is at the place you are going to, such as the golf club, or by arrangement at the marae.
History and Heritage
The Māori history of this ground is carried by Waiohiki Marae and by Ngāti Pārau. The ancestral connections recorded for the marae run to Takitimu, to Hikurangi and Ōtātara, and to the Tūtaekurī. A published meaning for the name Waiohiki was not confirmed in council or marae sources used here, so it is better left untranslated than guessed.
The bridge has been the village’s main link to Napier for generations. Its collapse in 2023 cut that link until the temporary staging bridge opened later that year. Councils considered several alignments for the replacement.
The selected option keeps the new bridge close to the existing crossing, which was favoured in part because it avoided buying private land and limited disruption while the new structure is built offline. Cultural values are being worked into the design with mana whenua.
The 2023 flood was not only a bridge story. Water from the Ngaruroro inundated parts of the village, destroyed houses and took a life. Recovery here is still visible in the temporary crossing and in the planning for a more resilient bridge, which also has to account for future flood-scheme work by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.
Getting Outdoors
Waiohiki is river country rather than a beach or a formed walking destination. The Tūtaekurī and Ngaruroro frame the locality, but there is no developed swimming spot to recommend, and river conditions after heavy rain can be dangerous. Check official flood and road advice before travelling if the weather is unsettled.
The standout outdoor visit is Napier Golf Club’s Waiohiki course, an easy-walking 18-hole championship layout beside State Highway 50. For a quieter look at the place itself, the bridge approaches and Waiohiki Road show the village as it is: marae, highway and open land between two large Hawke’s Bay rivers, with Taradale just across the water.
Where to Learn More
Hastings District Council: Waiohiki Marae: Council listing for the marae, including its Waiohiki Road address.
Māori Maps: Waiohiki: Hapū, iwi, wharenui and ancestral connections for Waiohiki Marae.
Hastings District Council: Redclyffe/Waiohiki bridge: Status of the temporary crossing and the confirmed alignment for the permanent bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waiohiki part of Napier?
No. It is a rural locality in Hastings District, south of Taradale and north of Hastings. Many people reach it from Napier, but Napier City Council is not the local council.
How do I get to Waiohiki from Napier?
Cross the Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge over the Tūtaekurī from the Taradale side, then continue on State Highway 50. Waiohiki Road leads to the marae. The golf club is on Korokipo Road at State Highway 50.
Is the bridge open?
A temporary staging bridge is open. The original bridge, built in 1933, lost its central spans in Cyclone Gabrielle. Hastings District Council and Napier City Council have confirmed a preferred alignment for a permanent replacement immediately upstream. Construction still depends on approvals and funding.
What is Waiohiki Marae?
It is a marae of Ngāti Pārau, a hapū of Ngāti Kahungunu, at 44 Waiohiki Road. The wharenui is Hau-Te-Ana-Nui. Māori Maps connects it to the waka Takitimu, the maunga Hikurangi and Ōtātara, and the awa Tūtaekurī.
Can I visit the marae?
Not as a casual tourist stop. Marae are community places. Contact Waiohiki Marae and arrange a visit rather than turning up unannounced.
Is there a golf course in Waiohiki?
Yes. Napier Golf Club, also called Waiohiki, is an 18-hole championship course on Korokipo Road and State Highway 50. The club dates its opening to 1896 and hosted the first New Zealand Open in 1907.
Was Waiohiki affected by Cyclone Gabrielle?
Yes. In 2023 the Ngaruroro flooded parts of the village, houses were destroyed, and one person died after being swept away. The Tūtaekurī bridge also collapsed. A temporary bridge later restored the road link.
Where do people shop, and which schools are here?
There is no verified town centre, supermarket or school to list in the village. Everyday shopping is in Taradale, Napier or Hastings. Check Hastings District Council or the Ministry of Education for the current school zone if you are moving here.
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