Hawke's Bay (Māori: Te Matau-a-Māui[5]) is a region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.

The story says that Hawke's Bay is the fishhook that Māui used, with Portland Island and Cape Kidnappers being the northern and southern barbs of the hook, respectively.

On February 3, 1931, Napier and Hastings were devastated by New Zealand's worst natural disaster, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter magnitude scale, which killed 256 people.

During the Second World War, the German submarine U-862 entered the waters around Napier undetected, surfacing by the Sound Shell.

The submarine fired a torpedo at the Pukeko, a steamer leaving the Port of Napier, but narrowly missed.

[10] On the 13th and 14 February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive damage in Hawke's Bay as it passed over the North Island.

Power, phone service and internet access was cut to over 16,000 properties when the main Redcliffe substation was damaged in floodwaters after the Tutaekuri River burst its banks.

Downstream, 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying plains surrounding the river, where significant parts of Taradale, Meeanee and Awatoto were submerged.

The Ngaruroro River also breached its banks, flooding the town of Omahu where 20 people required evacuation via helicopter.

Access to Wairoa was cut off after extensive damage on SH2's Mohaka River Bridge in the south, and landslides also closing SH2 to the north.

Water supply in Central Hawke's Bay failed, and a mandatory evacuation was ordered for eastern Waipawa after the Waipara river rose to record levels.

The Hawke's Bay Region includes the hilly coastal land around the northern and central bay, the floodplains of the Wairoa River in the north, the wide fertile Heretaunga Plains around Hastings in the south, and a hilly interior stretching up into the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges.

In the hilly parts of the region sheep and cattle farming predominates, with forestry blocks in the roughest areas.

Hawke's Bay has 17,886 ha (44,200 acres) of horticultural land, the third largest area in New Zealand behind Canterbury and Marlborough.

[19] The climate is dry and temperate, and the long, hot summers and cool winters offer excellent weather for growing grapes.

Missionaries in the mid 19th century planted the first vines in Hawke's Bay and it is now an important place for full bodied red wines.

The Hawke's Bay Expressway forms the next section of the road as it crosses over the Tutaekuri and Ngaruroro rivers.

The road continues through the Heretaunga Plains into Central Hawke's Bay, connecting the towns of Ōtāne, Waipawa, and Waipukurau.

State Highway 2 is the main route heading south from Napier-Hastings to get to major centres such as Palmerston North and Wellington.

The Taihape-Napier Road serves as an inland route between Hawke's Bay and the Rangitikei and Ruapehu districts, creating a connection to the towns of Taihape, Waiouru, and Ohakune.

[33][34] Hawke's Bay is covered by five general electorates — namely Napier, Tukituki, Wairarapa, Rangitīkei, and Taupō.

Hawke's Bay is also covered by three Māori electorates — namely Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, Waiariki, and Te Tai Hauāuru.

Cape Kidnappers, a headland at the south-eastern extremity of Hawke Bay, is a popular tourist attraction.

The cape has been identified as an Important Bird Area due to being a breeding site for over 6500 pairs of Australasian gannets.

These take place over several weekends in winter and ten days in summer, attracting thousands of visitors, many from overseas.

The event, held at the Mission Estate Winery in Taradale, has attracted performers such as Kenny Rogers, Elton John, Shirley Bassey, Rod Stewart, The B-52's, Belinda Carlisle, Ray Charles, and Eric Clapton.

UK music artist Tycho Jones was staying in Hastings, Hawkes Bay when he was inspired to write the track Don't Be Afraid, produced by Jonathan Quarmby.

Players representing Hawke's Bay are also eligible to play for the Hurricanes in the annual transnational Super Rugby competition.

Hawke's Bay is one of the most seismically active regions in New Zealand and has experienced many large and often damaging earthquakes.