Hawke’s Bay suffered flooding and damage by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 resulting in a national state of emergency being announced.

To our relief, much of Hawke’s Bay is safe and operational for visitors. We have surveyed our operators and while some communities are inaccessible, the vast majority of tourism and hospitality operators have been incredibly fortunate to avoid any damage. Many are already operating as usual and look forward to welcoming visitors as the wider region recovers.

Visitors with a reservation or plans to visit, are recommended to check with accommodation providers and experience operators about their current operating capacity.

Hawke’s Bay Airport is fully operational, with visitors travelling by air able arrive as usual.

Considerations will need to be made for visitors travelling to the region by road, as some core roading infrastructure has been impacted, particularly for those travelling from the north.

Waka Kotahi has indicated that restoring the impacted roads, notably State Highway 5 between Taupō & Napier, is top priority for them. Please check Waka Kotahi for most up to date information of the roading network.

The lasting damage from Cyclone Gabrielle is largely concentrated in communities outside the main visitor locations. For example, visitors staying in Havelock North can spend their time exploring the wineries of Te Awanga, visiting the gannets at Cape Kidnappers, and enjoying the many surrounding restaurants and vineyards with no obvious sign of the cyclone’s impact.

Please find relevant frequently asked questions here.

Click here for a list of tourism businesses and their current operational status.

For further information, please contact:

Heather Matthews
P: +64 (0)22 306 2237
E: heatherm@hawkesbaytourism.co.nz