Patea
![](/Images/godic/202502/01/NZ-Taranaki_plain_map4502.png")
![Aerial view](/Images/godic/202502/01/Patea,_Taranaki,_New_Zealand,_12_April_20084502.jpg")
![The Aotea canoe remembrance arch in Patea](/Images/godic/202502/01/Remembrance_arch,_Patea4502.jpg")
Patea (/pɑːˈtɛə/) is the third-largest town in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is on the western bank of the Patea River, 61 kilometres north-west of Whanganui on State Highway 3. Hawera is 27 km to the north-west, and Waverley 17 km to the east. The Patea River flows through the town from the north-east and into the South Taranaki Bight. For the former electorate from 1893 to 1963 see Patea.