Pakowhai is a small settlement in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is a located between Napier and Hastings, north of the Ngaruroro River.^[1]

Mission Estate Winery established its first vineyard in Hawke's Bay at Pakowhai in 1851.^[2]

The Pakowhai Regional Park is located on the river's south bank. It is a country park,^[3] with dog-walking areas and agility features.^[4] It hosts community planting days,^[5] and attracts kākā from inland mountains.^[6]

A new petrol station was controversially proposed for the area in 2019.^[7]

Pakowhai was inundated by flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 after the Ngaruroro River burst its banks. Dozen of houses were destroyed. ^[8]

Omahu-Pakowhai statistical area, which includes Omahu, covers 57.13 km² (22.06 sq mi)^[9] and had an estimated population of 2,020 as of June 2023,^[10] with a population density of 35 people per km².

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 45.78 km² (17.68 sq mi).^[9] Using that boundary, Omahu-Pakowhai had a population of 1,434 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 342 people (31.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 273 people (23.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 429 households, comprising 774 males and 660 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 39.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 276 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 282 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 666 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (14.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 61.9% European/Pākehā, 37.9% Māori, 8.6% Pacific peoples, 1.3% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.3% had no religion, 38.1% were Christian, 6.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (15.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 240 (20.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 159 people (13.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 648 (56.0%) people were employed full-time, 195 (16.8%) were part-time, and 51 (4.4%) were unemployed.^[11]

Pakowhai School is a Year 1-6 co-educational state primary school,^[12] with a roll of 30 as of February 2024.^[13][14] The school was established in 1895.^[15]