Hawera Water Tower

Need a little exercise? Climb the 215 steps up the Hawera Water Tower for marvelous views of the Taranaki countryside.

Like other towns in South Taranaki, Hawera is a business and shopping centre serving a large farming community. Hawera means 'the burnt place' or 'breath of fire' - it takes its name from the old Maori village of Te Hawera, which was located approximately three kilometres south east of the present town.

The meaning of the town's name is particularly significant because Hawera has a history of devastating fires. Huge blazes destroyed parts of the town in 1884, 1895 and 1912. Hawera was so fire-prone that insurance underwriters demanded the construction of a water tower as a fire-fighting reservoir.

Completed in 1914, the 54 metre Hawera Water Tower is one of Taranaki's best known landmarks. A staggering 1340 tonnes of hand-mixed concrete was required for its construction. In recent times the tower has undergone extensive restoration, making it safe for visitors to climb the 215 steps for panoramic views of Hawera and farmland.