Region · Stats NZ · MBIE
Hawke's Bay in numbers
Hawke's Bay had an estimated 179,490 people at 30 June 2026, up 0.4% since the 2023 Census, 12th of 16 regions for growth. Central Hawke's Bay district is growing fastest (+1.6%). 30% of households rent, at a median of $600 a week.
People, June 2026
179,490
+0.4% (+650) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
−0.2%
−370 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Median weekly rent
$600
Lower quartile $534, upper $680. 10,587 active bonds. MBIE, July 2026
Median full-time earnings
$1,523 a week
June 2026, +0.2% on the year. Stats NZ publishes Gisborne/Hawkes Bay Regions together
Employment rate
63.5%
Unemployment 4.8%, participation 66.7%. Employment −0.6 pp on a year ago. 2026 Q1 (Gisborne, Hawke's Bay)
Population, 1996 to 2026
Estimated resident population at 30 June, the sum of the region’s districts. Dark bars: first year, 2023 Census base, latest.
Population by year, 2019 to 2026
| 30 June | People | Change on the year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 173,720 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 177,640 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 178,390 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 177,620 | −0.4% |
| 2023 | 178,840 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 179,570 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 179,860 | +0.2% |
| 2026 | 179,490 | −0.2% |
How Hawke's Bay households hold their homes
- 57% own their home
- 30% rent
- 13% held in a family trust
62,868 households, 2023 Census.
Districts in Hawke's Bay
Each district below is a Stats NZ territorial authority, grouped under its main region; the region total is their sum. Tap a name for its own page.
| District | People, June 2026 | Since 2023 Census | Latest year | Households renting | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings district | 88,300 | +0.3% | −0.2% | 31% | $600 |
| Napier city | 66,300 | +0.2% | −0.2% | 31% | $645 |
| Central Hawke's Bay district | 16,000 | +1.6% | −0.3% | 24% | — |
| Wairoa district | 8,890 | 0% | −0.2% | 35% | — |
Median rent is shown where MBIE publishes the district on its own; otherwise see the region figure above. Earnings and employment are regional council estimates, not district figures.