Last updated October 2026
Point Howard (also known as Ngau Matau or Ngaumatau) is a small coastal suburb on the eastern side of Wellington Harbour in Lower Hutt. It forms the northern gateway to the Eastern Bays chain that runs south toward Eastbourne.
Residents and visitors find a quiet headland setting with harbour views, a local beach, and direct access along Marine Drive. The suburb sits within the Harbour Ward and is represented by the Eastbourne Community Board. Its character blends residential living with the working harbour edge near Seaview and the recreational bays further south.
Practical Information
- Ward or local board
- Harbour Ward; Eastbourne Community Board
- Getting there
- Main access via Marine Drive. Metlink bus services including route 83 (Eastbourne–Lower Hutt–Petone–Wellington) stop at Point Howard; school buses also serve the Eastern Bays corridor.
- Main shopping
- No major shopping centre within the suburb; everyday needs are met in nearby Seaview, Days Bay, Eastbourne, Petone or central Lower Hutt.
- Schools
- No schools located in Point Howard itself. Nearest primary options include Muritai School in Eastbourne; school bus routes connect the Eastern Bays to Hutt Valley intermediate and secondary schools.
- Nearby landmarks
- Point Howard Beach, Tupua Horo Nuku Eastern Bays Shared Path, Seaview industrial and marina area, Sorrento Bay, Lowry Bay
About Point Howard
Point Howard occupies a headland and small bay near the former swamp lands around Waiwhetū and the Hutt River estuary. It is the first in the series of eastern harbour bays that curve south toward Pencarrow Head.
The Māori name Ngaumatau (or Ngau Matau) refers to the long sloping ridge likened to the bite of a fishhook. Oral histories describe the hills once clad in beech forest reaching the shoreline, with the Eastern Bays used primarily as fishing grounds.
Māori association with the area dates back many centuries. The wider Wellington harbour region saw successive iwi occupation, including Ngāti Ira and later Ngāti Toa Rangatira becoming dominant by the early nineteenth century. A major pā stood at Waiwhetū, with land access to the bays via the ridge track.
European naming came when Captain Chaffers of the New Zealand Company survey named the headland after Philip Howard, a member of the New Zealand Committee Association. The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake uplifted land around the estuary, improving coastal access.
Subdivision began in earnest in the early twentieth century after earlier incomplete plans. The Lowry Bay Estate Company subdivided the northern section that includes present-day Point Howard. Housing remained sparse for decades; better roads after the Second World War increased its appeal as a residential and picnic destination.
Industrial growth at neighbouring Seaview brought the construction of Point Howard Wharf as an oil terminal in 1930. The wharf served bulk oil imports until Seaview Wharf took over primary duties, after which the structure saw limited chemical tanker use before being designated for recreation. It later closed to the public for safety reasons and is undergoing demolition.
Today Point Howard is a compact residential suburb with harbour outlooks, a local beach near the bus stop, and strong connections to the wider Eastern Bays community. The Tupua Horo Nuku shared path and seawall project links Point Howard with Eastbourne, improving walking and cycling access while protecting Marine Drive and underlying infrastructure from coastal erosion.
Getting Around
Marine Drive is the sole main road serving Point Howard and the Eastern Bays. It carries both local traffic and through traffic between Seaview and Eastbourne. Metlink bus route 83 provides regular connections to Petone, Lower Hutt (Queensgate) and Wellington city, with a stop at Point Howard.
Additional school bus services operate along the corridor for students travelling to Hutt Valley schools. The completed sections of the Tupua Horo Nuku Eastern Bays Shared Path offer a dedicated walking and cycling route along the coast, enhancing active transport options and resilience against weather and sea conditions.
History and Heritage
Beyond the naming and early subdivision, Point Howard’s twentieth-century story is closely tied to harbour industry. The Texas Oil Company and later Vacuum Oil established storage and pipelines linked to the 1930 wharf.
Water supply infrastructure, including a reservoir excavated on the headland during the Depression, supported growing settlement in the bays. A bathing shelter was erected near the beach in the 1920s. The suburb remains part of the broader Eastbourne community identity that once formed its own borough before amalgamation into Lower Hutt.
Mana whenua partnerships, including with Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, inform coastal projects such as Tupua Horo Nuku. The shared path name and design reflect cultural narratives of the harbour edge.
Getting Outdoors
Point Howard Beach, located near the bus stop, is the local swimming and recreation spot, with Sorrento Bay a short distance east. The Tupua Horo Nuku path provides continuous coastal access for walkers and cyclists toward Days Bay and Eastbourne, with rest areas and improved protection from the sea.
Harbour views and the headland setting suit short strolls and picnics. Nearby Lowry Bay and the wider Eastern Bays offer further beaches and walking opportunities along the harbour shoreline. The former wharf site is closed during demolition works; public access focuses on the beach, path and surrounding coastal edge.
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia: Point Howard: Overview of geography, Māori and European history, demographics context and references for the suburb.
Hutt City Council: Point Howard Wharf: Official project page covering the wharf’s history, condition assessments and demolition progress.
Hutt City Council: Local government information for Lower Hutt, including Eastern Bays projects such as Tupua Horo Nuku and community board details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Point Howard?
Point Howard is a coastal suburb in Lower Hutt on the eastern side of Wellington Harbour, at the northern end of the Eastern Bays between Seaview and Sorrento Bay/Lowry Bay.
What is the Māori name for Point Howard?
It is known as Ngau Matau or Ngaumatau, referring to the ridge shape likened to a fishhook bite.
How do I get to Point Howard by public transport?
Metlink bus route 83 runs between Eastbourne, Point Howard, Petone, Lower Hutt and Wellington. Other services and school buses also use Marine Drive.
Is there a beach at Point Howard?
Yes. Point Howard Beach is the local beach near the bus stop; Sorrento Bay lies a short distance further east.
Are there shops or cafés in Point Howard?
The suburb itself has limited retail. Residents and visitors typically use facilities in Seaview, Days Bay, Eastbourne, Petone or central Lower Hutt.
What is Tupua Horo Nuku?
It is the Eastern Bays Shared Path and seawall project running along Marine Drive from Point Howard (Ngau Matau) to Eastbourne, providing safer walking and cycling and coastal protection.
Can I visit Point Howard Wharf?
The historic oil wharf has been closed to the public for safety reasons and is being demolished. Access focuses on the beach, shared path and surrounding coastal areas.
Which community board covers Point Howard?
Point Howard is within the Harbour Ward and is served by the Eastbourne Community Board of Hutt City Council.
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