Heretaunga Plains
The Heretaunga Plains are a plain in the east of the North Island of New Zealand .
The alluvial land of the plain was deposited by the Tutaekuri , Ngaruroro and Tukituki River in the area of their lower reaches at the southern end of Hawke Bay, which flows into the Pacific .
The Tutaekuri River runs east of the Kaweka Range and flows south of Napier. The Ngaruroro River runs about 100 km southeast of the Kaweka Range, then eastwards. It flows into the city of Clive 10 km south of Napier . The Tukituki River has its source in the Ruahine Ranges and flows over a distance of 105 km first to the east, then to the northeast. It passes the city of Waipukurau and flows into Hawke Bay near Hastings.
The plain extends to the south-west inland and has an area of about 1000 km². The cities of Napier , Hastings, and Havelock North lie on the plain that extends almost to the district's largest city, Waipukurau .
The fertile soil and the warm, dry climate of the region create good conditions for viticulture , fruit growing and horticulture . The southern Hawke's Bay region is one of New Zealand's top wine growing regions.