Formed in 1989, it covers an area of 3,333 square kilometres, from Pukehou in the north to Takapau in the south, and from the western Ruahine Range to the Pacific coast in the east.

There are also several small beach communities, including Kairakau, Pourerere, Aramoana, Blackhead and Pōrangahau.

There is a marae in each of the four corners of the district, at Pukehou, Kairakau, Pōrangahau and Takapau.

The results were 83.9% European (Pākehā); 25.2% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 2.9% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

[6] State Highway 2 runs through the centre of Central Hawke's Bay, leading south to Palmerston North (108 km) and the Wairarapa and north to Hastings (50 km) and Napier.

The Palmerston North – Gisborne railway line runs through the district, with one station at Waipukurau.