Whakatu is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Hastings, one of 52 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Whakatu is the 21st largest suburb of Hastings in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Whakatu provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1910 - 1919. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1970 - 1979. Residential housing stock in Whakatu is made up of approximately 92% residential housing , 2% residential investment housing and 6% lifestyle properties.