The White Hart Hotel has been part of High Street in Hawera since 1876, when Thomas Lloyd opened the original Empire Hotel. After a fire in 1884 and a rebuild, the grand timber building that stands today opened in 1909, designed by architect J E Rowe with 36 elaborately furnished rooms, Wunderlich steel ceilings and electric lighting. Renamed the White Hart in 1923 by James N. Anderson and updated again in the 1930s, the hotel is heritage-listed and still serving its original purpose — a cherished piece of Hawera's timber-town legacy.Original double-hung windows, French doors and cast-iron verandah posts give the corner pub its Edwardian character, while upstairs offer around 20 cosy rooms with comfy beds, clean linens, free Wi-Fi and secure parking, suited to business travel, family stays or weekend getaways. Downstairs, a full bar pours boutique wines, spirits, craft beers, tab beers and non-alcoholic drinks, and a fully equipped kitchen turns out tasteful bar bites and hearty plates featuring local produce and international favourites — ideal for dinner, refreshments or a late-night snack.The Hart is also a nightlife hub: karaoke nights and talent competitions, disco and DJ nights every Friday, and live bands with grand finales on Saturdays. There's a small gaming room for patrons 18 and over, and the venue hosts private parties, community events and celebrations with catering and entertainment support. Walk-ins are welcome anytime; on quiet evenings the pub may wrap up a little early, so it's best to call ahead.
On High Street in the heart of Hawera, the White Hart Hotel has been welcoming travellers and locals for close to a century and a half. It is a pub that wears its history on its timber sleeve — heritage-listed, still in its original use, and very much alive with music, laughter and the clink of glasses most nights of the week.
The story begins in 1876, when Thomas Lloyd opened the original Empire Hotel on this site. A fire in 1884 forced a rebuild, and in 1909 the grand new structure that still stands today opened its doors. Designed by architect J E Rowe, it boasted 36 elaborately furnished rooms, Wunderlich steel ceilings and — a genuine novelty at the time — electric lighting. In 1923, James N. Anderson gave the building its current name, and the 1930s brought beautifully updated ground-floor bars and a balcony.
Today the heritage features remain part of the draw: original double-hung windows, French doors and cast-iron verandah posts, all wrapped in the laid-back charm of a corner pub that has served Hawera since the Edwardian era.
Upstairs, the White Hart offers around 20 cosy rooms — 17 to 20 depending on configuration — each with comfy beds, clean linens, free Wi-Fi and secure parking. They suit business travellers, families and anyone chasing a weekend getaway in South Taranaki.
Downstairs, the full bar pours boutique wines, spirits, craft beers, tab beers and a good range of non-alcoholic beverages. The kitchen runs from a fully equipped setup, turning out tasteful bar bites and hearty plates built on local produce and international favourites. Whether you're after dinner, a round of refreshments or a late-night snack, the menu is built to match the mood.
When the sun goes down, the White Hart comes into its own. Karaoke nights and talent competitions give the crowd a turn at the microphone, disco and DJ nights take over every Friday, and Saturdays bring live bands and grand finales. It's the kind of line-up that makes the pub a genuine gathering place rather than just a stop on the way home.
There's also a small gaming room for patrons aged 18 and over, with 18 pokie machines and a clear house philosophy: a safe, balanced and respectful environment, with sensible gambling encouraged.
Planning something bigger? The White Hart hosts private parties, community events and celebrations, with catering and entertainment support on hand to make the occasion run smoothly.
The doors open at 9:30 AM every day of the week. Monday to Thursday and Sunday run through to midnight, while Friday and Saturday nights go all the way to 2 AM the next morning. One local tip: on quiet evenings the team may wrap up a little earlier, so it's worth calling ahead if you're heading out late.
Walk-ins are welcome anytime, and group bookings or function hire can be arranged by phone or email. With a 4.8/5 rating and a mission to deliver genuine hospitality — combining historical charm with modern comforts — the White Hart Hotel lives up to its vision of being Hawera's premier gathering place, where history meets good company, hearty meals and lasting memories.