Regional Guide
South Taranaki Guide
What brings people to South Taranaki — the industries, the towns, the attractions, and why Hawera is at the centre of it all.
Major Industries
South Taranaki has one of the highest GDP-per-capita figures of any district in New Zealand — driven by dairy, meat processing, energy, and a growing engineering sector.
Fonterra — Whareroa
Fonterra's Whareroa plant, 2km south of Hawera, is the largest single-site dairy factory in the southern hemisphere. It processes millions of litres of milk daily from thousands of lower North Island farms. The site includes a co-generation power plant operated jointly with Todd Energy. Fonterra also operates plants in Eltham (Collingwood Street and Bridge Street) and at Kapuni.
Accommodation near Fonterra Whareroa →
Silver Fern Farms
Silver Fern Farms operates meat processing plants in Hawera and at Waitōtara, employing hundreds of permanent and seasonal workers. The Hawera plant is in the Tawhiti catchment industrial area. Graeme Lowe Protein (meat rendering) also operates nearby.
Accommodation near Silver Fern Farms →
Todd Energy — Oil & Gas
Todd Energy is New Zealand's largest private oil and gas company, with over 70 years of exploration in Taranaki. Todd is the 100% owner and operator of the Kapuni gas field, located between Hawera and Stratford. The company runs active drilling campaigns and operates wellsites across South Taranaki, with a community advisory panel and sponsorship of local schools and organisations.
Accommodation for Todd Energy workers →
Food & Agricultural Processing
Beyond dairy and meat, South Taranaki is home to Yarrows Bakery in Manaia (large-scale commercial baking), ANZCO Foods in Eltham, Quinoa Co, Green Meadows Beef, and Taranaki Bio Extracts. Agriculture and its associated processing industries contribute around 20% of the regional GDP.
Engineering & Supporting Industries
Hawera has a high density of engineering firms servicing the dairy and energy sectors — fabrication, mechanical, electrical, and industrial maintenance. The servicing needs of Fonterra and the oil and gas industry have helped both heavy and light engineering develop across the region.
What's Growing
South Taranaki Business Park
A 67-hectare commercial development on the outskirts of Hawera, just off SH3. The Business Park includes commercial lots and a residential subdivision, with Stage 1 already operational. UNO Windows was the first business to set up in the West End Precinct. Infrastructure upgrades to roading, three-waters, internet and electrical are underway across the site.
Accommodation near the Business Park →
Fonterra Expansion
Fonterra has announced a $150 million cool store project at Whareroa — a significant capital investment that will bring construction crews and contractors to the area over the coming years.
Pātea Town Centre
South Taranaki District Council has plans for a pedestrian mall and town centre redevelopment in Pātea, with construction expected to begin around 2028.
Towns of South Taranaki
Hawera — The Main Hub
Hawera is the second-largest centre in the Taranaki region with a population of around 10,000. It's the administrative and commercial heart of South Taranaki, home to the district council, hospital, schools, and the bulk of local services. The Hawera Water Tower (215 steps to the top) is an iconic landmark, and the town has a growing cafe and dining scene.
Eltham
20 minutes north of Hawera. Home to Fonterra plants on Collingwood Street and Bridge Street, plus ANZCO Foods. A rural service town centrally located for the major employers.
Manaia
10 minutes south of Hawera. Home to Yarrows Bakery, one of the region's larger food manufacturers.
Pātea
30 minutes south along SH3. Near Silver Fern Farms' Waitōtara plant. A coastal town with heritage significance and planned CBD redevelopment.
Stratford
30 minutes north. A rural service town and gateway to Egmont National Park from the east. Centrally located for workers at Fonterra, ANZCO, and Silver Fern Farms.
Kaponga
15 minutes from Hawera, near Todd Energy's Kapuni gas field operations.
Waverley
40 minutes south. A growing coastal settlement.
Ōpunakē
30 minutes west on the Surf Highway (SH45). A popular beach town and tourism destination on the Taranaki coast.
Things to Do
Tawhiti Museum — One of New Zealand's most respected private museums, with life-size dioramas of Taranaki history. Located just outside Hawera.
Hawera Water Tower — 54 metres tall, 215 steps to the top, with panoramic views of the district and Mt Taranaki.
KD's Elvis Presley Museum — A unique private collection of Elvis memorabilia in Hawera, open by appointment.
Egmont National Park — Mt Taranaki / Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki is approximately 45 minutes from Hawera. Walking tracks, alpine scenery, and ski fields in winter.
Surf Highway 45 — The coastal road from Hawera to New Plymouth, passing through Ōpunakē, with surf breaks, beaches, and scenic lookouts.
TET Stadium & Events Centre — Hawera's main events venue, hosting sports, concerts, and community events throughout the year.
Taranaki Pioneer Village — An open-air museum near Stratford with heritage buildings and working machinery.
Getting Here
Hawera is on State Highway 3, approximately 70km south of New Plymouth. New Plymouth Airport is the nearest airport, about a one-hour drive north. The town is also accessible from Whanganui (1.5 hours south on SH3) and Palmerston North (3 hours).
SH3 is the main freight and travel route through the western North Island, connecting Wellington, Whanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth and Hamilton.
Staying in South Taranaki?
The Furlong is on SH3 in Hawera — central to all the towns, industries and attractions across the district. Book direct for the best rates.