Tuai

Tuai is a small settlement on the eastern shore of Lake Waikaremoana in the North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Wairoa District of the Hawke’s Bay Region and is part of the Te Urewera area. The village sits at the southern end of Lake Waikaremoana and is connected to the surrounding region by local roads that run along the lake’s edge.

The locality serves as a gateway to the Lake Waikaremoana area, which is renowned for the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, a multi-day trek through native forest and along the lake shore. The landscape features rugged hills, dense forest, and scenic water views. The Tuai area is linked to New Zealand’s early hydroelectric development; the Waikaremoana hydroelectric project includes a power station near Tuai that was established in the first half of the 20th century to supply electricity to the region.

Population and amenities in Tuai are limited, with services concentrated in larger nearby towns such as Wairoa. The community sits within Māori customary lands, and the lake and surrounding forests hold cultural and ecological importance for local iwi and the wider public. Tuai’s natural setting and historic role in hydroelectric development contribute to its identity within the Lake Waikaremoana landscape.