The more northerly of the two rivers called Esk River in New Zealand lies in Hawke's Bay, in the eastern North Island. One of the region's major rivers, it flows south from the slopes of Mount Taraponui in the Maungaharuru Range before turning east to reach Hawke Bay 10 kilometres to the north of Napier. State Highway 5 follows the lower course of the river for several kilometres close to the settlement of Eskdale.