Up until 1931 , the lowest part of the Tutaekuri River flowed north , following its original channel ( the location of present-day Taradale ) and into Ahuriri Harbour . In the 1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake , the land underneath Ahuriri Harbour was drastically raised . The river was forced to seek an alternative route and started to back up , and so the residents of Hawke 's Bay dug out a new , alternate path connecting it to the Ngaruroro River , into which it still flows today
1931 Hawke 's Bay earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
Tutaekuri River