Nearshore surface currents in southern Hawke Bay, New Zealand

Nearshore surface currents have been measured in southern Hawke Bay in the area between Napier and Clifton. There is a predominant northgoing residual current, due at least in part to longshore drift. The tidal streams set northwards with a rising tide and southwards with a falling tide. The discharge of river water disturbs the nearshore surface circulation by imparting an offshore component in the vicinity of the river mouths. Under certain conditions large‐scale eddies form in the nearshore zone. The maximum current velocity observed was 1·1 knots.