Hataitai is an inner-city suburb of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, 3.5 kilometres southeast of the city centre.

The suburb extends over the southeastern flank of Mount Victoria and down a valley between the Town Belt and a ridge along the shoreline of Evans Bay.

Hataitai is on important transport links between the central city and Wellington Airport, to the south of Evans Bay on the isthmus at Rongotai.

The story goes that when the taniwha Ngake broke through the mountains that separated the then-lake from the Cook Strait, the waters rushed out, leaving his older brother Whātaitai stranded on the rocks as he tried to escape after him.

With his body having turned to earth, Whātaitai's spirit manifested into a bird that flew to the top of Tangi Te Keo (Mount Victoria) to mourn never being able to be with his brother again.

In 1902 the new suburb was advertised by the cutting of gigantic letters spelling 'HATAITAI' in the turf of the town side of Mount Victoria.

In 2011 Wellington City Council added Hataitai Village shops to its District Plan list of heritage buildings.

[7] Sports facilities include the Badminton Hall on Ruahine Street and Hataitai Park on the Town Belt.

In addition, the Alexandra Road Play area is accessible from Hepara Street, with a 180 degree view from Wellington Harbour's Eastbourne to Lyall Bay in the South and only a short walk to the Mount Victoria summit.