Bay View, New Zealand facts for kids

Bay View is a small town located in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It's on the eastern side of the North Island. You can find it about nine kilometres north of the city of Napier, right along State Highway 2.

The Esk River flows into the sea just north of Bay View. Close by, to the south, are Hawke's Bay Airport and the Napier suburb of Westshore. Since 1989, Bay View has been managed by the Napier City Council.

A Look Back: Bay View's History

Bay View has had a few different names over time. It was once known as Kai-arero and later Petane.

The Name Kai-arero

The name Kai-arero means "eating of the tongue." This name came from a significant historical event in 1826. A chief named Tuakiaki was involved in a traditional act of revenge against his brother-in-law, Te Mautaranui. This event led to the area being called Kai-arero.

From Bethany to Petane

Later, William Colenso from the Church Missionary Society set up a mission station near the Esk River. He called it Bethany. Local Māori speakers changed Bethany to Pētane, and this name became common for the whole area.

Why the Name Changed to Bay View

In the early 1860s, the Pētane area was involved in historical events related to conflicts of the time. To avoid confusion with another place called Petone in the Wellington region, the name of the area was officially changed to Bay View in 1924.

Who Lives in Bay View?

Bay View covers an area of about 29.22 square kilometres. As of 2023, it has an estimated population of around 2,490 people. This means there are about 85 people living in each square kilometre.

Population Growth Over Time

Bay View has been growing steadily.

• In 2006, the population was 1,773 people.
• By 2013, it grew to 1,920 people.
• In 2018, the population reached 2,238 people.

This shows a good increase in the number of people choosing to live in Bay View.

A Diverse Community

The people living in Bay View come from various backgrounds.

• Most residents, about 90.8%, identify as European or Pākehā.
• About 17.0% of the population is Māori.
• Smaller groups include Pacific peoples (0.9%) and Asian people (2.3%).
• About 13.1% of the people in Bay View were born outside of New Zealand.

Age and Lifestyle

The average age in Bay View is around 46 years old.

• Nearly 20% of the population is under 15 years old.
• About 13% are young adults aged 15 to 29.
• More than half, about 50%, are adults aged 30 to 64.
• Around 17% of residents are 65 years or older.

Many people in Bay View work full-time (about 52%). Others work part-time (about 16%). The average income in Bay View is a bit higher than the national average in New Zealand.