Mr White said the fall was a correction from previous levels and reflected the Reserve Bank intervention which had taken many first-home buyers out of the market.
Napier and Hastings sales volumes started 2014 "bullish" but fell off.
"These lower sales volumes appears to be a result of a lift in interest rates and uncertainty surrounding the pending general election. Since June, sales activity steadily improved with 79 sales in October, following the election and 86 sales recorded in November."
Hastings volumes recovered in the past three months of the year.
In Napier, Marewa saw the biggest increase year on year, up 9.13 per cent, from $224,500 to $245,000
Taradale had the most property sales and broke its record median price, from the 2007 property peak of $355,250 to $360,000.
Ahuriri prices were not strong, despite demand, said Mr White. The median fell 2.63 per cent to $370,000 from $380,000 in 2013.
"This is still well back on the medians recorded in 2007-2008 of $435,000 and $452,000 respectively, dropping substantially in 2010 to $352,000 - a significant price correction at the time."
Bay View had the biggest drop in Napier, down 11.2 per cent from $361,000 to $320,500.
Napier City Council's Parklands subdivision went from $488,000 to $505,000, the highest since its establishment in 2007. "Rising land values and building costs and demand for new housing can be attributed to this."
Maraenui rose 4.5 per cent, from $143,000 to $149,500, the second year-on-year increase after 2012's 13.94 per cent. Its peak was $189,000 in 2008.
The region's suburb to show the largest increase, and largest volume of sales, was Havelock North. The median sale price for the suburb was up 4.70 per cent on 2013. Its median sale price was $429,250, close to 2009 levels but not at the peak of 2007 when it hit $448,750. Mahora fell 14.9 per cent to $240,000.
Mr White said this figure was slightly misleading as prices for the suburb spiked in 2013 to $282,000, a 13.9 per cent increase from 2012. The six-year median in this suburb is $252,000.
Haumoana and Te Awanga declined 10.4 per cent, considered a market correction, after a "significant lift" from 2012.
Mr White said Reserve Bank mortgage restrictions, that came into force in October 2013, successfully dampened the market.
"Hawke's Bay, like other regions outside of Auckland, has been caught in the crossfire as Reserve Bank policy endeavours to put the lid on strong Auckland and Christchurch housing markets."
Recent activity in Hawke's Bay was balanced between buyer and seller because Hawke's Bay did not have the population growth and high wages driving Auckland.
Sales volumes were down since mid-2013 "though we have not seen any price drop or correction in prices during this period".
This year looked promising, thanks to falling fuel prices and interest rates boosting confidence. If successful, the Ruataniwha water storage scheme "would undoubtedly" benefit Central Hawke's Bay.
Waipukurau and Waipawa median prices were steady last year - 0.6 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.
Wairoa rebounded 10.3 per cent from a weak 2013, which was 21 per cent down on 2012.
Dannevirke declined, down 5.6 per cent from 2013 to be 13.9 per cent below the 2008 peak of $156,750.
