Smoke from a fire on Pakowhai Rd on Monday morning A busy road in Hastings is closed as emergency services battle a fire in a residential building Police say they assisted with road closures at a building fire on Pakowhai Road in Hastings Fire and Emergency New Zealand are at the scene and the road is closed between Duke St and Frederick St A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said at 11.02am six fire trucks from Napier and Hastings were actively fighting the fire which appeared to be in a residential property “About 80% of the structure is well involved in fire so there is extensive damage to it - they are still at work extinguishing the fire.” two fire trucks remained at the scene of the 20m by 15m single-storey house fire The spokesperson was unaware if anybody was inside at the time of the fire or if anyone had been injured “The initial call we got was for a lot of smoke in the area so we sent a fire truck to have a look and came across the building on fire.” The spokesperson said the fire investigator was at the scene to determine a cause Eco Lodge Pakowhai manager John Lowe confirmed the nearby lodge was not involved It is understood that the fire is also not at the Gracelands Retirement Village “We are over 100m and two hedges away and didn’t see or hear anything but we heard all the fire engines,” Lowe said Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area if possible The Saturday closure comes amid a proposal to shut Napier Library for at least two years A building fire has broken out on Pakowhai Road in Hastings Fire and Emergency New Zealand were called to the scene at 9:30am on Monday The road is closed between Duke Street and Frederick Street The owner of nearby Ecolodge Pakowhai John said there were four fire engines on site and a small trail of smoke was visible at the back of a residential property Police have asked people to avoid the area New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News An off-road motorbike rider on Orchard Rd in Hastings Hastings residents say they fear more serious crashes will occur if police don’t clamp down on dirt bike riders illegally riding and hooning on local roads Two teenagers (aged 14 and 17) crashed while riding an off-road motorbike and struck her on a footpath outside a cafe opposite Hawke’s Bay Hospital All three people were injured but have since been discharged from hospital Police said they had not been in pursuit of the motorbike at the time Hawke’s Bay Today has learned complaints were made to police in the weeks leading up to the incident about young people allegedly riding off-road motorbikes illegally on nearby roads Relieving Hawke’s Bay Area Commander Inspector Phil Gillbanks said in a statement it was a nationwide problem “The behaviour of youths on dirt bikes is a problem across New Zealand and not unique to Hastings or Hawke’s Bay.” He did not confirm how many complaints had been received by police about off-road motorbikes on Hastings roads or what follow-up action had been taken by police following complaints he encouraged members of the public to report any concerning behaviour to police by calling 105 or going online “The more information they can provide the better including addresses where the bikes and riders are coming and going from bike and rider descriptions and times and locations where they are most prevalent,” he said “With the help of the public and good evidence police will intervene with people involved and will seize the bikes when legally able to.” Gillbanks said the investigation was ongoing and some parties were yet to be spoken to He did not confirm if any charges had been laid at this stage said young people riding dirt bikes on the roads around Kirkpatrick Park – near the crash site – had been a problem for weeks before the incident They said some teens wore helmets and others didn’t and none of the bikes appeared to be registered or have a number plate The resident said it had been a daily occurrence and “sporadic” through the day since about the start of the school holidays on April 12 I had between three to five [off-road] motorcycles going by every single day,” the resident said “It has dropped off in the fact I haven’t seen the numbers I saw in the holidays but there is still at least one person hooning around [each day].” They said they had lodged almost daily complaints with police The resident claimed they had not seen police speaking to the riders or confiscating any bikes “I would like to see a clear police presence and vehicles taken,” they said “Something needs to be done and it is a shame it took an innocent person to get hurt for something to happen.” said they had witnessed similar behaviour around Kirkpatrick Park “They are driving around without helmets trying to do wheelstands up the middle of the road,” the resident said “Then when they are off the road they are over at the park The resident said they had been “ringing heaps” to lay complaints with police “I’ve never seen them speaking to them [and] I’ve made heaps of complaints “I know it’s hard because they can’t be everywhere at once they could be planted around Camberley sitting there and watching.” The resident said they believed the problem had been ongoing for weeks and often involved teens without helmets The resident believed another innocent person would likely be injured if more wasn’t done “We get plenty of kids running up and down these streets and these bikes are going at this time and they are hoofing it.” A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said the council “periodically receives complaints about motorbikes in parks and reserves” She said the riding of dirt bikes was prohibited in council parks but it was a police matter to enforce “Our advice to people who ring us is to advise the police so they can respond.” The spokeswoman said the council was intending to “reach out to the Camberley community with reminders that this activity is prohibited and that residents should ring the police as soon as they see this activity happening” Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read One of the 23 towns filmed by Rudall Hayward was Hastings in October 1928 (he had filmed Natalie of Napier in September) was chosen to star as the pretty young schoolteacher (who doesn’t seem to have been named in the credits) Donald Campbell was the handsome Bill Cowcocky (the fiancé of the schoolteacher) and Freddy Fishface the villainous newspaper reporter who kidnaps the schoolteacher Scenes were filmed outside the Grand Hotel (now Bollywood Stars) in Heretaunga St East and the garden party scene was shot at St George’s Rd North at “Eastella” The grand chase climax scene was on St George’s Rd North 40 members of the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club were also filmed giving chase to a rabbit – and the hounds were filmed catching and making short work of the hapless animal it was thought there was no surviving footage of A Daughter of Hastings I was contacted by a person saying part of the movie had been found This was confirmed by Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision staff this week who hope to have it on their website in the middle of May 2025 and does apparently show the destruction of the rabbit The final scene of the movie involved Donald Campbell (Bill Cowcocky) riding a horse along St George’s Rd and then jumping from it into an open-top tourer car travelling at 32km/h It wasn’t uncommon for the horse rider – as had happened in – to land right on top of the schoolteacher was “sensational” in his dismount into the car – which then stopped after he had caught Freddy Fishface The Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club were not far behind and together with Bill Cowcocky they took turns in giving Freddy Fishface a good old fashion bit of “biffo” on the side of St George’s Rd A Daughter of Hastings showed for three nights from November 7-9 1928 at the Hastings Municipal Theatre (the Hawke’s Bay Opera House) And of course the advertising played on getting the Hastings community “coming and having a look at yourself for many scenes were taken when you were not aware” Rudall Hayward was particularly pleased with Daisy Truman and that “her blonde colouring has photographed excellently” (black-and-white film) He also liked the Hastings Fire Brigade’s part and the unfortunate dismembering of the rabbit by the hounds He thought the filming of the countryside of Hastings “turned out excellently” All the three main actors had “performed their work well” “If the continuity was a bit ragged at times for they realised it was an amateur production and it had done its work of advertising Hastings and giving much pleasure.” the film then went on tour around New Zealand acted commendably and even in the rather terrifying business of close-ups retained all her self-possession” of television fame who finds lost relatives I became curious about Truman – what happened to her after her silver screen appearance She went to Hastings Convent School and was a bright student who was very musical She then attended the Hastings Technical High School she can be traced to working at Roach’s Limited – then Hawke’s Bay largest department store (where Farmers is now in Heretaunga St) Her father Joseph Truman died in early 1928 and her mother took over the running of the Carlton Hotel and Daisy and younger sister Josie moved with her born in England before their parents immigrated to New Zealand It is thought that not long after the filming of A Daughter of Hastings who was staying at the Grand Hotel near where she lived A grand party was held in her honour at the Hastings Band Room in June 1929 before she left the next week to be married in Wellington It was spoken of how much the town “regretted her departure from Hastings to Australia” Her wedding in Wellington attracted widespread interest in Hawke’s Bay and the bride was said to be very charming “in a model of blue georgette and beige Her bodice was tight-fitting and the skirt long and flared” It appears the couple settled in Hastings and did not go to Australia immediately Her mother Nellie had bought the Empire Hotel in Napier in 1929 1931 – the day of the 7.8 magnitude Hawke’s Bay earthquake Nellie was badly injured and fractured her leg The two girls were out walking and were uninjured Daisy and Robert Salon went to live in Sydney She would come back regularly to Napier to visit her mother and siblings Daisy’s mother would in 1938 bury her daughter Josie the same age as her sister was in A Daughter of Hastings I wanted to find out if Daisy’s son Leon was still alive I called every Salon in the Sydney phone book he was very surprised at a Kiwi calling him and knew nothing of his mother’s film stardom He told me she spoke often of the trauma of being in the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake also dying at a comparatively young age of 62 Leon Salon died aged 86 in 2022 at Bondi Junction He was married for 58 years to Barbara and had three children The blood and guts of the hunt scene aside (at least it’s black and white) I await with anticipation to hopefully see Hastings’ own silver screen star in A Daughter of Hastings when the film is released in a few weeks’ time – Michael Fowler is a contracted Hawke’s Bay author and historian Lily Sutherland is one of the country’s leading jockeys presently sidelined through suspension and is also on the injured list John Jenkins is a longtime racing journalist based in Hawke’s Bay Members of Hawke’s Bay Racing will hopefully find out by the middle or end of this month what the future holds for the club going forward Riddell said those considerations include a comprehensive re-development plan to set Hawke’s Bay Racing up for racing for the next century He said those plans are advancing at a pace but are unlikely to be clear until July we are proposing to hold a members’ meeting in mid-late May we will outline and recommend an immediate course of action to return to racing as soon as possible and provide you with information regarding the process being undertaken to achieve the best long-term outcome for racing in Hawke’s Bay.” Riddell confirmed that the club had sold part of the land that it owned in the Paki Paki area which has enabled the it to pay down some of its bank debt “The short point is that we are making headway to enable the board to focus on applying all resources to our key objective of getting back to racing soonest,” he said He added that Hawke’s Bay Racing has established a liaison subcommittee that is tasked with exploring the merits of combining Hawke’s Bay Racing resources with other clubs in the region The thinking is that it will maximise the opportunities to enhance the racing facilities and support the racing industry in the eastern North Island The Waipukurau Jockey Club held a successful set of trials on their track on Tuesday with the racing surface providing excellent soft footing and the feedback from trainers and jockeys was very positive Waipukurau Jockey Club president Kirsty Lawrence said that although entry numbers were down on what was expected she felt the club needed to put on trials to accommodate horses due to the present lack of trial and race meetings in the Central Districts Lawrence said that the club needs at least 80 horse entries at the trials to make it viable for the club to run them A lot of work goes into staging the trials for the betterment of racing in the Hawke’s Bay region that they will be better supported in the future Among the most impressive winners on the day were Lucullan Lucullan is an Australian-bred three-year-old by Rich Enuff trained at Awapuni by Peter Didham and was a 4-3/4 length winner in a Rating 60 race at Waverley on April 4 He contested a 1000m heat at Waipukurau and wasn’t extended when winning by a length in a time of 1:01.88 Opaki trainer Jim Wallace lined up a promising two-year-old in Dolindo in the opening heat over 850m The Time Test gelding was slow to begin and gave the leaders a good head start coming to the home bend a four-year-old by Eminent owned and trained by Waverley-based Harvey Wilson scored a decisive 1-3/4 length win in a maiden catchweight heat over 1200m coming from second last in a six-horse field on the home turn to power past the opposition in the final stages and record the fastest time of the two 1200m heats It is thought there is a record number of jockeys sidelined in New Zealand at the moment Thirty riders spread throughout the country won’t be competing this weekend and some won’t be back in action for some time The list of suspended riders include five of the top 10 in this season’s national Jockeys’ Premiership in Michael McNab Sutherland is also on the injured list after suffering concussion in a training fall Suspended at Te Rapa on April 26 from close of racing on Saturday Suspended at Riccarton on April 26 from close of racing on Saturday Suspended at Riccarton on April 26 from close of racing on May 2 to close of racing on Sunday Suspended at Riccarton on April 26 from close of racing on May 3 to close of racing on May 23 Suspended at Pukekohe on April 23 from close of racing on April 26 to close of racing on May 16 Suspended at Riverton on April 21 from close of racing on Thursday Suspended at Riverton on April 21 from close of racing on May 9 to close of racing on Wednesday Suspended at Ellerslie on April 19 from close of racing on April 26 to close of racing on Wednesday Suspended at Ellerslie on April 19 and Wanganui on April 27 from close of racing on April 26 to close of racing on Saturday Suspended at Matamata on April 17 from close of racing on April 26 to close of racing on Saturday Suspended at Ashburton on April 16 to close of racing on Friday Suspended at Ashburton on April 16 from close of racing on April 26 to close of racing on Wednesday Suspended at Wellington April 12 and Te Rapa April 13 from close of racing on April 19 to close of racing on Saturday Corey Campbell: Out until further notice from April 18 Lily Sutherland: Out until further notice from April 15 Ngakau Hailey: Out until further notice from March 18 Choon Kin Kwo: Out until further notice from March 11 Tony Allan: Out until further notice from March 10 Rory Hutchings: Out until further notice from February 26 Lisa Allpress: Out until further notice from January 18 Sam Weatherley: Out until further notice from January 25 Darren Danis: Out until further notice from November 18 Kendra Bakker: Out until further notice from October 31 Gareth Lahoud: Out until further notice from September 12 Jay Kozaczek: Out until further notice from September 8 Brandon May: Out until further notice from April 22 Superstar trainer James Cummings and global powerhouse racing stable Godolphin are to split from the start of the new racing season where he worked with his legendary grandfather Bart Cummings James Cummings has been the head trainer at Godolphin But that will soon be over with Cummings revealing he wants to return to Leilani Lodge Godolphin is reimagining its structure in the Australian racing industry and will no longer employ a private trainer from next season In a joint statement with head trainer James Cummings on Wednesday Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv said their decision to move to a public training model was in line with the design adopted by other influential owners and breeders Cummings will continue to train some horses for Godolphin with the all-powerful racing and breeding organisation explaining the decision to spread their team among a number of trainers would provide greater flexibility for the business while maintaining Godolphin’s strong presence in the Australian thoroughbred industry “The private training model that we first adopted after the purchase of Woodlands in 2007 and now James Cummings for the past eight years has proven to be very successful,” Makiv said “Moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility We will continue to have the same number of horses in training — it’s fundamental to what we do." Cummings worked for nearly a decade at the famous Leilani Lodge and took over the running of that stable before joining Godolphin he had his first Group 1 win and now has a whopping 49 Group 1 winners to his name expressed excitement at embarking upon the next chapter of his career “The time is right for me to take the next step in my career and launch my own venture as a public trainer,” Cummings said “This experience has been incredibly rewarding and has taught me invaluable lessons “I’m deeply grateful to Godolphin for their ongoing support and I look forward with great anticipation to this exciting new chapter.” The Hastings community will be asked to give feedback on three options for the future management and delivery of its water services following a Hastings District Council decision yesterday [April 30] All councils across the country are being asked to talk to their communities about the future management and delivery of drinking waste and stormwater services as part of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reform which replaces the previous government’s Three Waters legislation seeks to address the increasing costs of providing the three water services the three options are considered the most beneficial for Hastings and the wider Hawke’s Bay region and every option has been assessed for its benefits councillors approved the options to consult with the community on and also endorsed their preferred model – a regional Hawke’s Bay Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) owned by Hastings The other three partner councils also agreed to consult with their communities on their preferred option of a regional CCO The other two options for Hastings are a single or to continue to deliver water services as is done currently through a new business unit Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was very important that residents understand the impact of these options and provide input to help council make its final decision “I’m very proud of the extensive improvements we have already made to drinking storm and wastewater services over the past eight years “We’ve invested about $248m on upgrading our water infrastructure in this time as well as meeting new national water standards will put pressure on council’s finances along with those of ratepayers and water customers “Each option has advantages and disadvantages but no matter what model we choose we know delivering and managing water is going to become increasingly expensive “We need to think about how we provide safe reliable water services both now and into the future in a way that supports the growth of our towns and cities and makes the most efficient use of our residents’ investment.” A regional CCO is Council’s preferred model given the improved financial sustainability it offers through operating and cost-efficiencies (with costs likely to be ring-fenced between councils) but any decision on a regional entity will be dependent on the consultation with the Hastings community and that of the communities of the partner councils Consultation on Hastings District Council’s three options will open on May 12 and run until June 15 and there will be extensive information available to help residents form their views and give feedback this information will be available at www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz Back to Home customerservice@hdc.govt.nz More Contact Details Hastings District Council - Copyright © 2025 Hastings District Council Police said they were called to the scene on Tomoana Rd around 12.40pm. The road is closed while the serious crash unit carries out a scene examination. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and follow diversions. A person has died following a single-vehicle crash in Hastings this afternoon. Iwi misses out on bid to buy back ancestral mountain The campaign to bring the Kahurānaki back into Māori ownership included a 10-day hīkoi from Māhia to Kahurānaki Te Ao Māori Vandals in 4WDs mow down The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees Crime and Justice Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning New Zealand Sheep killed more euthanised after stock truck rolls in Southland Police were called to the single-vehicle crash on Tokanui Gorge Rd Highway near Fortrose at around 7.45am on Monday Four injured State Highway 2 at the intersection of Wi Duncan Rd is currently blocked Let them dance: Napier to retain 3am bar closing times Napier City Council has done a U-turn on a proposal to close bars an hour earlier Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon A person has died following a single-vehicle crash in Hastings this afternoon Police said they were called to the scene on Tomoana Rd around 12.40pm The road is closed while the serious crash unit carries out a scene examination Motorists are advised to avoid the area and follow diversions Hawke's Bay iwi Ngāti Kahungunu has been unsuccessful in its bid to buy back the mountain Kahurānaki but the iwi says its connection to the land will always remain Kahurānaki Station - a 1156 hectare sheep and beef farm south of Havelock North which includes the peak of the mountain - came up for sale earlier this year and the iwi launched a fundraising campaign to buy it The campaign to bring the Kahurānaki back into Māori ownership was called He Maunga Ka Taea and included a 10-day hīkoi from Māhia to Kahurānaki It raised more than $95,000 on crowd funding platform koha.kiwi Hastings-based post-settlement governance entity Tamatea Pōkai Whenua Trust submitted a tender on behalf of the iwi Chairman Pōhatu Paku said the trust was the only local entity to tender for the Station and they were saddened and disappointed by the outcome The trust had approached the tender on the basis it was presented Paku acknowledged the young and emerging iwi members who had generated the groundswell of support for the tender and for the longer term status of the mountain ki tēnā o tātau e titikaha nei ki tēnei kaupapa I just want to acknowledge and mihi to everybody that has connected with this kaupapa Paku said the trust would be engaging with the station's new owners at an appropriate time to convey the iwi's history and also set out their aspirations "The continuation of the protection of our wāhi tapu (sacred sites) is significantly important to us Continued access to the mountain would also be a high priority "The previous owners were quite open for Kura for people running kaupapa and also those that wished to ascend the maunga they allowed that they identified that it was culturally significant to us all." Paku said Tamatea Pōkai Whenua will need to foster the groundswell of support and leadership that the He Maunga Ka Taea campaign had generated "The whakapapa connections and taonga that is Kahurānaki maunga remain our greatest advantage is that we live in perpetuity and our maunga and our tīpuna live with us and they continue to be ours "And like all of our tūtohu whenua (landmarks) our maunga carries our traditions and our identity and our histories and we remain uncompromising to act in the best interests of our tūtohu whenua both for this generation and for future generations." Paku said the trust may look at legal personhood as another avenue to protect the mountain but ultimately he said the maunga remains an ancestor and retains its own mana which no one can ever own rnz.co.nz A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said Sheep have been killed and others have had to be euthanised after a stock truck rolled in Southland this morning The road was completely blocked and expected to be closed for sometime while the scene was cleared however the road is completely blocked," a police spokesperson said Southland District Council confirmed some animals were killed in the crash while others had to be euthanised due to injuries Fire and Emergency responded with crews from Waimahaka It's the second incident of sheep being killed after a stock truck rolled in Southland in a little over a week A small number of lambs had to be euthanised after a stock truck rolled near Balclutha on April 27 Four people have been injured following a two-vehicle crash south of Dannevirke this evening Police said they were called to State Highway 2 at the intersection of Wi Duncan Rd around 7.10pm One person sustained serious injuries following the crash Motorists have been asked to take alternate routes Napier City Council has done a U-turn on its proposal to close bars an hour earlier with one councillor saying he wasn’t prepared to take the chance for young people to dance away from them Councillor Richard McGrath said he looked around the council table when he was making up his mind "The likes of the three o’clock in the morning is for 18- to 25-year-olds "And that’s not us," McGrath said “There is only one place in Napier open until 3am and it offers a point of difference – you can actually go and dance not my thing but for plenty of people it is and perhaps if we go back far enough around the table “I’m not prepared to take that away from our community who are growing up and doing their thing and learning about the world “How are they going to learn about the world sitting at home playing on a PlayStation?” The earlier closing time was a major part of the draft Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) which also included no more off-licences to be issued for bottle stores in Maraenui Mayor Kirsten Wise called for an amendment to the proposed LAP based on what she was hearing around the table “What I’m going to propose is an amendment to the officers’ recommendation yet to be debated is we retain the provisions in the existing LAP regarding maximum trading hours regarding the 3am closing for nightclubs and 7am selling at grocery stores.” 44% of submitters supported the proposed changes with their reasons including helping reduce the harm caused by antisocial behaviour and alcohol while 56% were against it with reasons including unnecessary pressure on the hospitality industry a publican who has been in the industry for 47 years had earlier said the proposed changes in the closing hours were crazy He said if bars had issues they were "not being run right spoke at the meeting about the importance of creating a safe environment using security and cameras Another issue identified by officers on the proposed LAP was consistency and alignment with Hastings District Council McGrath said he kept hearing about Hastings It’s about time perhaps Hastings looked at itself and said ‘hey actually Napier’s going to three if we think there’s a big enough issue with the different closing times “It doesn’t always have to be us going the other way LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months A US$3 billion (NZ$5 billion) repair backlog a stunning directive from President Donald Trump for the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons to “REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” — the notorious penitentiary on an island in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago Even as the Bureau of Prisons struggles with short staffing chronic violence and crumbling infrastructure at its current facilities Trump is counting on the agency to fulfill his vision of rebooting the infamously inescapable prison known in movies and pop culture as The Rock Trump declared in a social media post that a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz will house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders” Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William K Marshall III said that the agency “will vigorously pursue all avenues to support and implement the President’s agenda” and that he has ordered “an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps” We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law and justice,” Marshall said in a statement “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission.” an 8.9-hectare spit of land with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline was once the crown jewel of the federal prison system and home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals including gangsters Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly But skyrocketing repair and supply costs compelled the Justice Department to close the prison in 1963 and the Bureau of Prisons has long since replaced Alcatraz with modern penitentiaries including a maximum-security prison in Florence The former and perhaps future penitentiary is now a popular tourist attraction and a national historic landmark It’s controlled by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area meaning the Bureau of Prisons could be in for an interagency tug of war if it tries to wrest away control of the island Trump’s Alcatraz directive is yet another challenge for the Bureau of Prisons as it struggles to fix lingering problems while responding to the president’s priorities on incarceration and immigrant detention includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The problems at the Bureau of Prisons transcend administrations and facilities An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons over the last few years including widespread criminal activity by employees and severe understaffing that has hampered responses to emergencies then-President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency It remains the Justice Department’s largest agency 155,000 inmates and an annual budget of about US$8 billion (NZ$13.4 billion) but the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures have eliminated some pay bonuses that were credited with retaining and attracting new staff That has resulted in long overtime shifts for some workers and the continued use of a policy known as augmentation teachers and other workers are pressed into duty to guard inmates A Bureau of Prisons official told Congress at a hearing in February that more than 4000 beds within the system — the equivalent of at least two full prisons — are unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs a 37-year-old Florida businessman who was found dead April 28 in a suspected suicide at a federal jail in Miami He was awaiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and killed his estranged wife in Spain inmate Ramadhan Jaabir Justice was killed in a fight at the federal penitentiary in Pollock where he was serving a nearly 11-year sentence for a conviction related to an armed robbery As Trump was ordering Alcatraz’s reopening correctional officers at the same Miami jail were fighting to curb the spread of tuberculosis and Covid-19 isolating inmates after they tested positive for the diseases immigration detainees at the facility ripped out a fire sprinkler and flooded a holding cell during a lengthy intake process the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin has sat idle for more than a year after the Bureau of Prisons cleared it of inmates in the wake of rampant sexual abuse by employees the agency made the closure permanent and idled six prison camps across the country to address “significant challenges crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources” While Trump hails Alcatraz as a paragon of the federal prison system’s cherished past other facilities stand as reminders of its recent troubles They include the federal jail in Manhattan which remains idle after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide there in 2019 exposed deep flaws in its operations where 23 inmates have been charged in recent months with crimes ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing last month of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Police have made a number of arrests after gang insignia breaches at a tangi in Hastings They said three vehicles were also impounded after traffic offending Three people will be appearing in court on driving related matters Investigations into further offending at the tangi is ongoing Hawke's Bay Area Prevention manager inspector Caroline Martin said police would not tolerate unlawful activity and would be working to hold people to account "Police encourage the public to report any instances of unlawful activity to police so we can take appropriate action." A Hastings man who has been selling bunches of watercress for more than 30 years has been told by Hastings District Council to stop until he pays registration fees A Hastings man who has run a makeshift business picking and selling watercress on suburban streets for more than 30 years has been told to stop until he pays more than $600 of registration fees Hastings District Council sent a message to the man after a council officer “observed the activity” in Flaxmere near the shopping centre on April 23 Jake* – who declined to tell Hawke’s Bay Today his real name for this article out of fears of even more of a crackdown against him – says he feels betrayed by the council and is just trying to make a small living putting healthy food on the tables of the community “Why do they want a cut of money I generated with my sweat to give the community the chance to put kai on the table?” the council said under the Food Act he had to cease trading until he was registered as a National Programme 1 business with the Hastings District Council Council said a rough estimate of the set-up cost was around $619 Jake says he questions why he’s only being asked to do it now after more than three decades of sales and fears the domino effect registration could bring down upon him “All I’ve ever wanted to do was supply cheap and the community has been amazing offering to help me pay [to become a legal operator] Jake says his uncle got him into picking watercress I was from a big family and money was tight.” He said his watercress gained popularity rapidly over the years to the point he was supplying shops and some supermarkets Everyone was selling it on the side of the road.” These days Jake sells on the side of the road outside the Flaxmere shopping centre “I was parking in the carpark but was told by the council I wasn’t allowed to do that.” Flaxmere ward councillor Henry Heke said the man had been harvesting and selling watercress for years “The question now is how can council officers support him How can they help him understand why there are regulations in place regarding the sale of food?” Heke said he had previously worked for an organisation that had helped and supported Ted Pardo “It’s all about supporting local and supporting homegrown.” The council says it has an obligation under the legislation to ensure foodstuffs that are sold are safe and suitable for people to consume But Jake says he knows his stuff and has an Eastern Institute of Technology certificate to handle raw and cooked food I never pick if there has been spraying nearby or if there are any dead animals nearby ”No one has ever got sick from eating my watercress." He donates produce to local tangihanga and marae and says he’s by no means making large profits I have overheads as well and with a big family myself whatever comes in goes out fast including weekends and holidays and living cheaply for 30 years I have finally been able to afford a truck “I’ve wrecked several cars driving over farm tracks “I’m trying to better myself by learning te reo Māori and all I want to do is look after family and make the community happy by providing good kai.” Registration to be a produce seller doesn’t apply to those selling produce at their gates but is otherwise required Eggs sold at the gate need packaging that complies with the Australia New Zealand Food Safety Code to meet labelling requirements A new social supermarket has opened its doors to Hastings families struggling to cover the cost of groceries who are referred by social agencies and allocated a certain number of points Nourished for Nil founder Christina McBeth who opened such a supermarket in Napier in September 2023 told Checkpoint Hastings residents were travelling to Napier to access the food shoppers can choose what they like with every item holding a points price so that at the checkout McBeth said it made sense to open a second social supermarket in Hastings to service the city "You're also dealing with people who are suffering hardship - you don't want to also make them spend extra petrol to get over to Napier so that's why Hastings has come up." She said food hardship had been noticeable since the Covid pandemic and it was worse in Hawke's Bay after Cyclone Gabrielle "A lot of people are having to make some tough choices and we feel if we can help out albeit in some small way to provide another avenue for food support - the social supermarkets really seem to tick that box." McBeth said the difference between the social supermarket and a food bank was that what goes into food parcels was decided by the staff rather than by the person who needed the food I have a certain amount of points I can spend - I can walk through here And with that comes a lot of dignity I think for people." A family of three - a single parent and two children - is allocated 65 points which translates to about $30 The family pays the $30 and collects a trolley which has a built-in calculator "They make their way through the store and the items have a point value instead of dollar "And the point value is on the shelf so if you're coming up to your Weetbix it might say two points." The customer adds the points as they shop and at the checkout the items are scanned for re-ordering purposes before being packed "$35 will generally buy you about $150 worth of food." McBeth said the cost of the food is heavily subsidised by Nourished for Nil and Foodstuffs Initially Nourished for Nil had "squirrelled away" funding from the government to set up such a supermarket but now the charity needed private funding and from councils and lotteries So far she said the feedback had been good It's quite an emotional experience for many people because the people we're targeting are the ones are really struggling and generally finding themselves in crisis that's pretty new or unusual for them "There's a lot of emotion and there's a lot of gratitude." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Tons of perfectly good produce from New Zealand farms pantries and hungry children's tummies around the… Audio Food rescue organisations fear thousands of tonnes of surplus food could end up in landfills if funding due to run out in June is not renewed The annual report on the child and youth strategy looked at poverty measures and indicators between July 2023 and June 2024 "Because we are iwi led we are more connected and that's where our strength comes from," a manager says New Zealand is backsliding as food and housing become too expensive OmniHealth has officially opened Stortford Accident and Medical’s new purpose-built facility in Hastings marking a significant step forward for urgent and primary care in the region is an urgent care and general practice clinic The centre provides walk-in treatment for injuries illness and other non-emergency conditions as well as ongoing primary care for managing long-term health needs and has a focus on timely access and strong patient relationships and attract the clinical workforce needed to serve the Hastings community OmniHealth managing director Mark Wills said the facility was built with patients and clinicians in mind and reflected a long-term investment in sustainable and high-quality healthcare He said it was a shared vision with GP Greg Beacham and his wife Vilma to strengthen primary care in Hastings “OmniHealth believes strong primary care is the foundation of healthier communities.” The clinic would improve healthcare access and enhance the care experience for patients and clinicians “It’s an investment not just for today but for the future of health in this region.” The opening acknowledged several individuals and organisations who played a vital role in bringing the new facility to life These included investors and developers Greg and Catherine Honnor builder Trevor Mossman and his subcontractors architects Chris Hume and Brad Davies of Hume Architects Ian McLachlan from Colliers and the staff at Stortford Accident and Medical for their ongoing support The opening also welcomed colleagues from the local health sector including Health Hawkes Bay chief executive Irihāpeti Mahuika Sharon Harris from Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and representatives from the Hastings Health Centre Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst attended and praised the facility as a valuable addition to the region’s health infrastructure “This new private facility will play an important role in improving access to primary care in the region,” she said “It will also support healthcare more widely through the recruitment of GPs and nurses to what is a modern The latest exhibition at Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga – Hastings Art Gallery explores New Zealand’s complicated relationship with agriculture 'What thrives on these soils' recently opened and will run until 26 July It features the work of Abigail Aroha Jensen Their artworks reflect on the experiences of workers and the economies of working-class towns like Heretaunga Hastings—communities which are often shaped by farming industries The marketing slogan of Hawke’s Bay ‘Great things grow here’ promotes opportunities for investment The artists in this exhibition complicate this narrative and explore growth looking at the question of ‘who’ thrives and what it means to do so The exhibition features a video by the late Darcy Lange – filmed in 1974 following tangata whenua sheep farmers in Ruatōria Lange was one of the first video artists use the ‘long-take’ technique This is the first time the video has been shown in the Eastern North Island Yuki Kihara represented New Zealand at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022 and her work can be found in 30 permanent collections across the globe Her photographs in What thrives on these soils originally produced for MTG Hawke’s Bay in Ahuriri Napier explore different histories of connection between Hawke’s Bay and Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and weave together some of the stories of agricultural workers in Hawke’s Bay Other artworks in the exhibition offer different lenses – Jimmy Ma’ia’i works across textiles and installation exploring the flows of labour and resources between Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands Abigail Aroha Jensen uses sound and mixed media to explore the legacy of the Tokomaru Bay Freezing Works Daegan Wells looks at the legacy of wool and George Watson considers the ideological nature of Māori and Pākehā architectures drawing from the pastoral landscapes of Tairāwhiti “What thrives on these soils responds to Te Matau-a-Māui as a food producing region and a place of ‘growth’ – both physical and economic,” Gallery Director and curator of the exhibition Sophie Davis says “This exhibition gathers artists researching and practising across the motu from Tāmaki Makaurau to Tairāwhiti to the deep south of Colac Bay to longstanding connections within Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa The artworks in the exhibition connect us to wider conversations and delve into stories that are highly relevant to the Heretaunga-Hastings community.” Back to News Operating hours of Council's services and facilities for Good Friday and the Easter weekend The 24-hour call centre will remain open throughout the period For public transport queries see the GoBus website or phone 06 835 9200 Back to Home More than $100,000 worth of excavating equipment has been stolen from a rural Hastings property Police are seeking information about five excavator attachments stolen from a property in Pākōwhai between March 19 and 24 A spokesperson said investigators believed the thieves targeted the address After police initially estimated the value of the theft at more than $1 million they on Tuesday clarified the value at $150,000 The five items stolen were: skeleton buckets a hydraulic sorting grab and an additional excavating attachment The weights of the five attachments vary from 500kg to 3000kg and would have required a Hiab Anyone with information should contact police on 105 or online using the reference 250328/8423 Hawke’s Bay police are investigating after shots were fired at a house in Hastings early this morning A police spokesperson said the incident happened at the Cobham Pl address about 3am Witnesses reported possibly seeing two people leaving the area on a quad bike about the same time police don’t believe the shooting is related to tensions between the Mongrel Mob and Black Power in the Eastern District “We would like to hear from anyone with information which might assist our investigation,” a spokesperson said “We are particularly interested in any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area at around the time of the shooting.” Anyone with information should phone 105 and quote the file number 250428/4796 Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Police are using new powers to reduce tensions between rival gangs in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne The Gang Conflict Warrant has been invoked 28 times since April 24 allowing searches of gang-related vehicles and places with no further conflict reported since Thursday The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Police were called to a crash at the intersection of Tomoana Rd and Williams St in Hastings Police has confirmed one person has died following a crash on Tomoana Rd in Hastings this afternoon Police were called to a crash at the intersection of Tomoana Rd and Williams St about 12.40pm despite best efforts of emergency services one person died at the scene,” said a spokesperson “The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.” Five people were injured after a brawl in Hastings early on Sunday morning Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley said police were called to a disorder involving a large number of people fighting on King Street at about 3.30am “Police arrived and located five people with injuries some are believed to have been from a weapon,” Kemsley said Police are speaking to people believed to be involved and are working to establish what happened “We would like to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the assaults as we believe they have information that could assist in our investigation,” said Kemsley Police would like to hear from anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage from the King St area between 3am and 4am on Sunday Information that could assist police can be sent online at 105.police.govt.nz clicking “update report” or by calling 105 and using the reference number 250330/6709 Information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers online or via 0800 555 111 The Hastings meatball – a local bakery staple for many decades The humble meatball – a Hastings bakery staple for many decades – is to get its moment in the sun at the inaugural Hastings Meatball Festival that will kick off this year’s Summer F.A.W.C Hastings has been renowned for meatballs since the 1950s when the European owners of the Lilac bakery in Heretaunga St first impressed locals with their version of the traditional Dutch bitterballen all the bakehouses and main street cafes in Hastings have stocked them the brainchild of Hastings District Council and cooks will be presenting their own takes on the classic crumbed meatball battling it out for the Visitor’s Choice vote Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was very exciting to be holding this festival in honour of this much-revered “This is a first for Aotearoa New Zealand – a festival dedicated to our love of a perfect meatball “I remember watching my father making them at our family's Warren's Bakery and my cousin Malcolm who took over the bakery made the best meatballs in town one of the first things they do on a visit home is to grab a meatball it brings up good memories and connects them with their past along with other takes on meatballs presented by local eateries and their talented chefs.” Starting at 5pm in the Hastings City Centre on March 14 giving visitors a chance to sample a range of meatballs; whether smothered in sauce There will also be live music, beverage pop-ups, games, and an atmosphere buzzing with energy.To register for free tickets and to find out more about Hastings Meatball Festival head to hastingsmeatballfestival.co.nz Find out more about other F.A.W.C! events at www.fawc.co.nz Back to My Hastings Nourished for Nil has officially opened Whare Whāngai making it the second social supermarket store in Hawke’s Bay The store on Queen St West in Hastings is a collaboration with Foodstuffs North Island who fully stocked the supermarket for the opening and would contribute $50,000 annually The launch on Monday came 18 months after the organisations partnered to open the region’s first social supermarket in Napier a collaboration that has provided dignified food support to many local families The Hastings social supermarket will operate under the same model as other social supermarkets allowing agency-referred individuals and families facing food insecurity to shop for groceries in a supermarket-style environment while paying only what they can afford Nourished for Nil chose to name the Hastings Social Supermarket Whare Whāngai which means a place of nurturing and nourishment The name has been gifted by Sir Timoti Karetu a leading New Zealand academic of the Māori language New World Hastings has been named as the buddy store meaning it will support the social supermarket with supplies The existing foodbank service will continue to operate alongside the new offering Founder of Nourished for Nil, Christina McBeth, said expanding into Hastings was part of their vision “Our plan has always been to open in Hastings as we believe the need is there A lot of people using our Napier social supermarket come from Hastings.” The new store is just 100 metres from the distribution centre and McBeth said it was open to those deemed eligible by an agency such as Weave Hawke’s Bay  After a person or family is deemed eligible they are booked in and allocated three shops which is run on a point system with a small cost “The supermarket has the top 10% selling items in any supermarket.” McBeth said the supermarket stocks fresh fruit and vegetables and dairy - and even zero-point items such as bread or cereal to top up shops so there are products that might get donated to us and we can put them on the special shelf.” She said food insecurity had increased since Cyclone Gabrielle and the store supported people impacted by illness and job loss but also pensioners and people with disabilities “You want to make sure the people going through are genuine in need and not just people who think this is a cheaper option.” McBeth said it was rewarding to be able to help people who struggled to put food on the table in a judgment-free and dignified experience “We see a lot of tears in our social supermarket.” head of social supermarket for Foodstuffs North Island said they were thrilled to be working with Nourished for Nil again and wraparound support to people experiencing food insecurity and we know this new Hastings location will do the same.” Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities Excitement is building for this weekend’s first Al Fresco Friday event taking place in Hastings on and around Heretaunga St East it’s the first of two Al Fresco Fridays where the street will be closed to traffic between Hastings Street and Karamu Road Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the two events were the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the summer evenings and enjoy the local hospitality “We have some wonderful eateries and bars in our city centre and they are all looking forward to seeing residents out and about enjoying their offerings – whether indoors or relaxing outdoors “There has been a significant investment in revitalising our city centre in recent years and this is a unique way to experience it.” More than 12 local eateries will be serving delicious Al Fresco meals with Matangi Angus Beef offering a sausage tasting to start the evening Cellar 495 will transform into an outdoor restaurant for dining under the stars and Long Island Deli will stay open late with a special menu Long Island Deli owner Kristy Isaacson said they had created a special al fresco menu for the events – including pulled beef cheek toasted sandwiches and their famous street fries “It’s fantastic to see events like this happening in Hastings city - something for the whole family to enjoy that doesn’t have to cost a fortune It’s a bit different for us as we’re not usually open in the evening People can either book a table at their favourite spot or grab a takeaway from the many options available including Bambina or indulge in dessert from Rush Munro’s Ice Creamery - there’s something for everyone Other options include pairing a takeaway with a bottle of wine from Decibel in their specially extended licensed outdoor area or explore the food trucks serving up more tasty options Entertainment includes live local music acts Punters wanting a more relaxed vibe can bring a picnic blanket and park up in Albert Square or head over to the Tribune Precinct to enjoy outdoor dining at Rosie O’Grady’s or soak in live music at Brave Brewing The second Al Fresco Friday will be held on February 28 For more information follow @HastingsNZ on Facebook and Instagram Back to News Year 2 of the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan (LTP) Below is a summary of the newsletter update being delivered to letterboxes across the Hastings district in April 2025. You can read that document in full here.  This Annual Plan aligns with Year 2 of the 2024–2034 Long Term Plan (LTP) which was shaped by significant community input Because the budget remains largely unchanged from the LTP no formal consultation is required this year Adjustments include funding for an upgraded IT system and enhanced growth planning balanced through operational savings and efficiencies Our financial strategy is focused on responsibly managing the cost of Cyclone Gabrielle recovery—$230 million is Council’s share to be funded through borrowing—while also navigating rising costs for materials and services critical to maintaining infrastructure The 2025/26 rates increase remains at 15 per cent 6 per cent is the final step in phasing in a targeted rate dedicated to cyclone recovery now set at a stable level for the next 16 years Sticking to this strategy supports our credit rating and keeps borrowing costs as low as possible Cyclone Gabrielle took down 19 bridges and large culverts The damage included hundreds of major slips and 161 additional bridges in need of repair allowing isolated communities to reconnect There are 45 major slips across the network being repaired and strengthened between now and July 2026 The construction of the permanent replacement Rissington Bridge will soon go out to tender By August 2025 a new dual carriageway bridge with a separate shared path will restore this vital connection Kererū Gorge Culvert has been replaced with a much larger structure The construction of the replacement Dartmoor bridge will go out for tender later this year This permanent repair follow temporary fixes made after the cyclone Strengthening design is being completed tendering for this work is underway A project is underway to extend the Ōmarunui Landfill between Napier and Hastings which will provide space for waste for approximately the next 30 years The removal of general and cyclone-related debris from the five Havelock North streams related to the five dams continues replacing and enhancing of infrastructure within and across the streams Two major projects underway are the Ōmāhu watermain renewal and the Eastbourne Street to Sylvan Road trunk main installation A wastewater arterial project will see new wastewater pipes skirt the fringe of Hastings linking into the existing pipe network taking waste to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in East Clive Council has completed all infrastructure works for development of three council-owned sites in Flaxmere (244 Flaxmere Ave In Brookvale the focus is on a communal stormwater management area as well as drinking water and road safety upgrades In Iona the first stage of a multi-stage project to install new drinking water and wastewater pipes along Middle Rd as well as road safety improvements is nearing completion Council’s work programme for 2025/26 totals $488 million A key focus is a $254 million investment in core infrastructure and cyclone-related road and bridge repairs with a particular emphasis on supporting our rural communities Council achieved its $2.7 million savings target in 2024/25 This same level of savings is required in 2025/26 Additional savings are being made through contract reviews and rescheduling capital projects to reduce immediate borrowing needs Year 2 of the plan is heavily focused on critical infrastructure as well as the ongoing repair of our roads and bridges post Cyclone Gabrielle - in total a $254m capital investment package The capital projects are developed to meet the needs of residents with a particular focus in the LTP on our rural community where using the transport network remain a challenge Council is continuing to refine its capital plan through to the adoption of the Annual Plan in June 2025 Council continues to deliver vital services—regulatory functions while continuing to deliver for our community The income from rates is not enough to cover the costs of all Council's work Council uses loans to fund capital projects (including cyclone recovery) and our strategy is to maximise funding from other sources such as central government wherever possible and Central Hawke’s Bay councils) will provide short-term funding to Hawke’s Bay Tourism after the regional council withdrew support to sustain tourism’s $774m economic impact and over 5,000 jobs Properties located within the Whakatu West Industrial area are being separately consulted on a proposed stormwater solution for the area This proposal seeks to establish a new stormwater solution in the Whakatū West Industrial area and to recover the cost predominantly from landowners deemed to be in the serviceable area of the scheme The proposed solution would consist of a new pipe To view the full statement of proposal and to make a submission, visit myvoicemychoice.co.nz Some fees and charges set under the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 and the Food Act 2014 are publicly notified annually prior to them taking effect from 1 July. The proposed charges for the 2025/26 year are outlined on Council’s website These charges relate to obtaining a Resource Consent from Council for various activities The proposed charging schedule for 2025/26 can be found at myvoicemychoice.co.nz Here you will also find details on how to provide feedback on the proposed fees and charges Like other councils across New Zealand we are contending with very high inflation for the materials that councils use to build and maintain things like bridges (up 38 per cent) roading materials and water supply systems (up 27 per cent) We are also facing insurance cost increases The bill from Cyclone Gabrielle is around $170m to repair and rebuild the bridges roads and culverts that were destroyed; all essential for the economic and social wellbeing of our community We also committed $50m to the Category 3 properties’ Voluntary Buy Out programme and it is estimated a further $10m is required to repair water infrastructure and parks While the average rates increase is in the coming financial year (2025/26) 15 per cent this increase will not necessarily apply to your property Different factors impact on the level of rates One property may have a higher valuation than another or it may be connected to certain Council services whilst another may not per property charges that are also increasing so this changes the proportionate increase that some properties pay relative to others A property may be in an urban area and closer to facilities than a rural property and therefore pays a different fixed rate towards their management and maintenance We are looking at pausing some projects so we don’t have to borrow too much too quickly This includes investment in our city centre and parks and on walking and cycling paths – areas where Council has invested significantly in recent years we have not budgeted for Splash Planet development Civic Square redevelopment (aside from paving renewal and paving under the pou) We have also closed Frimley Pool due to rapidly declining use of this facility and the fact user funding was not covering its operating costs We set a savings target of $2.7m in year one of the plan and have made a commitment to look for further savings in the second year Our aim is to get debt under control and to balance the budget by dealing with debt earlier so rate increases can drop to around four per cent in urban areas and seven per cent in rural areas from about year four of the plan - 2027/28 onwards We introduced a new Cyclone Recovery Targeted Rate in Year One of the plan to help fund the cost of the cyclone and we have proposed that the recovery programme be substantially delivered over the next six years It could be delivered over nine years to smooth the rates increases but the transport network is currently still very fragile and any delays could end up costing more We have already received Government funding to assist with the costs of the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery and will continue to seek financial assistance from Government We held public workshops prior to finalising the Long-Term Plan and held an online forum for three months to gather community feedback on what we should and shouldn’t include in the that plan we heard that people wanted us to concentrate on core business and prioritise infrastructure and Cyclone Gabrielle recovery investment Core infrastructure includes roads and footpaths We have not budgeted for Splash Planet development As we transition to the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms (which will take some time) continued investment in water services is included in the Long-Term Plan to ensure we continue to have quality water infrastructure both for now and for the future A separate consultation on Local Water Done Well is due to be held in May 2025 Given the financial challenges we have had to delay investment in infrastructure (roads pipes etc) to service housing and industrial growth Our preference is to carefully carry on with existing commitments This means we need to be careful about timing or the compounding effect of interest costs will rapidly push up costs to be funded from future growth and from ratepayers If any new areas for growth are proposed these will be carefully scrutinised (or funded by the private sector) to take the risk away from ratepayers A person has died following a light aircraft crash in Hastings Police and other emergency services were called to the Hastings Aerodrome on Valentine Road just after midday where a light aircraft had crashed into the tarmac despite best efforts by emergency services the sole occupant died at the scene," police said The accident has been referred to the Civil Aviation Authority Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Taking practical action now means our community will be better protected from the impacts of climate change in the future We are delivering a programme of work focused on two key areas: adaptation (preparing for the physical impacts of climate change) and mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) This page outlines the specific projects and initiatives underway in each area Our adaptation work is designed to make our core infrastructure more resilient guide development away from areas exposed to natural hazards We are supported by strong partnerships with local Our mitigation work focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable transport and support Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy Heretaunga Arakura – Pathways to School programme Find out what hours our council facilities are open on Thursday 6 February for Waitangi Day No changes to services - collections will not be affected Please have your crates and bins at kerbside by 7am Flaxmere Community Centre and FlaxRock Gym For public transport queries see www.gobus.co.nz or phone (06) 835 9200 Back to Home Former Hastings Youth Council chair Chris Proctor has been appointed Tukituki Youth MP  and says his council experience will prove very valuable in his new role who is currently head boy of Lindisfarne College He said being part of the youth council was one of the most rewarding and valuable experiences he had through high school “I've had the privilege of learning from and working alongside an incredible group of young leaders - people who are passionate and deeply committed to making a difference in our district I've grown not just in confidence and leadership skills but also in my understanding of the challenges young people face locally.” In taking on the role of Youth MP this month he said it was an honour to take those lessons relationships and experiences with him to Wellington I’m especially looking forward to connecting with even more young people across our district “I know Youth Council has prepared me well for this next step and I’m incredibly grateful for everything it’s taught me and everyone who’s been part of the journey so far.” Youth Parliament is organised by the Ministry for Youth Development and is an opportunity for young people aged 16 to 24 to experience the political process Back to Home More than 3000 people flocked to the Osmanthus Gardens Hastings last night to celebrate the official opening of the 2025 Lantern Festival marking the return of one of the region’s most cherished events the festival has grown from a small community gathering into a large-scale Chinese cultural celebration attracting visitors from across the country and overseas Attendees last night included guests from as far away as Auckland situated near Shanghai – who had been told about the event by last year’s performer The Lantern Festival celebrates Hastings’ Sister City relationship with Guilin Hastings was the first city in New Zealand to establish a Sister City relationship with a city in China and this enduring partnership continues to strengthen through cultural events like the Lantern Festival This year’s event has expanded significantly to accommodate growing numbers and features giant inflatable pandas 50 per cent more lanterns and fairy lights and tranquil bonsai ponds and streams that reflect the peaceful beauty of the Osmanthus Gardens Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the opening night was a true reflection of the district’s diversity and unity “It was incredibly moving to see families from every culture and background coming together to enjoy this beautiful celebration The Lantern Festival is a highlight on our calendar and it just keeps getting better every year.” A particular highlight of this year’s festival is the exhibition of high-calibre paintings by high school students from across nine cities in China as well as a number of works by master painters - created specifically for this festival This exhibition has been drawing significant interest The Xinhua News Agency was represented on the night signalling growing recognition of the festival beyond New Zealand The atmosphere was enriched by live traditional Chinese music Their violin and keyboard renditions added depth and authenticity to the evening’s cultural programme Food trucks served up a wide variety of Asian cuisine adding to the immersive experience and offering something for every palate said the festival’s growth has been deeply rewarding to witness “This celebration was conceived to honour our sister city relationship with Guilin but awareness of the event has extended further in China It has become a beloved tradition that brings our community together and connects us with the wider world It’s been a privilege to see it flourish and to welcome so many people into this shared celebration of culture up to 25,000 visitors are expected to enjoy the festival Hastings District Council extends its sincere thanks to the event’s valued sponsors: Tūpore HongKeLong Asian Food Supermarket and Quest Hotel Back to My Hastings  A special karakia will be held early on Sunday morning to prepare for the temporary removal of Ngā Pou o Heretaunga from Civic Square The pou are being removed to allow their respective marae and carvers to carry out a 10-year inspection and complete any repair work before they are returned and rededicated on the Matariki public holiday on 19 June Ngā Pou o Heretaunga are a unique collection of 18 pou facing their respective marae Heretaunga with one from the Cook Islands installed in 2015 representing the strong connections between Ngāti Kahungunu and the Takitumu nation individual pou had been removed and inspected however this would be the first time the entire collection would be away February 24 arrangements and logistics would be confirmed with each marae to remove their pou for maintenance “Some marae have asked that their pou be returned to their own carving studios and others have agreed that their pou can be stored in a central city location with an open studio for carvers to work collectively in one space,” Mr Tomoana said During the time the pou are removed from Civic Square Hastings District Council’s commitment to installing a pathway and landscaping around the pou will be fulfilled expected to take about 10 weeks to be ready in time for the Matariki New Year the 50-year-old paving between the pou and the library would be replaced That work was intended to be part of a much larger Civic Square revamp however the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on Council’s finances had seen that limited to required maintenance only Public spaces and asset manager Rachel Stuart said the original paving was increasingly a safety risk with raised and cracked pavers posing a trip hazard The design of the pavers had been developed by tribal artists collective Iwi Toi Kahungunu advised by Hira Huata who worked on the initial Ngā Pou o Heretaunga project The paved patterns represent unity in the diversity of Hastings communities with a special pattern also paying tribute to the WWI and WWII memorials in the square The approximately 1300m2 square metres of pavers is in two sections with solid paving around the edges to accommodate delivery and maintenance vehicles Back to News RNZ can reveal that fourth generation Hawke's Bay farmer Marcus Buddo is putting his hat in the ring to be mayor of Hastings District It's the first time the 30 year old Hastings District Councillor from Poukawa has entered the mayoral race and he's launching his campaign in Havelock North on Saturday "I want to see people who wish to call Hawke's Bay home I want to see grandparents have the chance to see grandchildren grow up on their doorstep "I want our young people to see a future here," Buddo said The current mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst, has been in the role since 2017 and is yet to decide if she's seeking re-election for a fourth term "I will make my decision about whether I restand for the Hastings mayoralty in the middle of the year "I am very pleased to hear our Hastings District Councillors are putting themselves forward for election Leadership succession planning in local government is really important to me and our council," Hazlehurst said Councillor Damon Harvey has signalled he is re-standing as a councillor 'while also strongly considering the mayoralty' but so far Buddo is the first to formally declare his intentions "While there's been kind of back channel talking that others might try until nominations are in you don't really know," Buddo said "The reason I've come out now is I've been on council for three years and need an opportunity to talk to ratepayers about what I think we need to do as a district It takes time to get that message out there what I'm about and that I really am the best man for the job." It's a big job he's eyeing up too, with the region still recovering from the lingering challenges and costs of Cyclone Gabrielle "I'm running for mayor because I want to see a focus on reducing rates and debt housing affordability and to support economic productivity," he said Buddo said the council currently has about $410 million in debt today and it's expected to increase to around $700 million by 2030 Which will mean each rating unit will be paying about $1000 in interest costs but I think we can do more to find things that council doesn't need to be doing and could be delivered differently We need to show ratepayers we are completely serious about reducing the burden on them "As a councillor I have kept the ratepayers front of mind in every decision I've made making sure that we keep ratepayers first over the interests of special interest groups," he said Buddo is confident his degrees in economics "These are all things I bring to the table I have some serious experience," Buddo said His family has been farming the same property in Poukawa for nearly 120 years "It's a wonderful place to grow up and get to know the value of hard work and see how important it is to manage your costs to get through difficult times like droughts," he said The region suffered a persistent and severe drought in 2019 and 2020 but we got through it by managing our budget really tightly Hastings District Council 2025 election timeline: Napier City councillor Maxine Boag and Central Hawke's Bay councillor Tim Aitken have confirmed they were standing down while others have confirmed their mayoral bids On the second anniversary of one of the worst storms in NZ history reporter Alexa Cook talks to Hawke's Bay families living in the red zone They are defending the Civil Defence response to Cyclone Gabrielle but agree that emergency management systems need to be overhauled international touring stage production of The Gruffalo arrives at Toitoi for three enchanting shows on July 4 and 5 With just two stops in New Zealand—Auckland and Hastings—Hawke’s Bay is the only regional centre lucky enough to welcome this much-loved story to the stage this monster hit—winner of the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Production for Children (2015)—is set to captivate audiences with its vibrant storytelling Adapted from the Gold Award-winning children's book THE GRUFFALO follows Mouse into the deep dark wood on the hunt for hazelnuts Armed with just a nut map and a very vivid imagination retired Woodland Air Force General Owl; and the maraca-shaking Rather than becoming the main course of their next meal Mouse kills their appetites with stories of an imaginary monster friend But what happens when Mouse welcomes face to face with the very creature she imagined In a production that has become the toast of London’s West End Tall Stories & CDP vibrantly reinvent this delightful tale through its signature style of bold “It’s incredibly exciting to have an international production of The Gruffalo coming to Toitoi” says Glen Pickering including me doing all the voices and I’m sure it’s the same for many families across Hawke’s Bay This is a world-class production that has wowed audiences across the globe so it’s going be an unmissable experience for both young and young-at-heart theatre lovers.” This monster of a show beautifully captures the magic of Donaldson and Scheffler’s adored “modern classic” (The Observer) The Australian production has attracted critical acclaim with the Sydney Morning Herald calling it "funny while the Courier Mail said "While your children are having a whale of a time.. Venue: Toitoi – Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events CentreDates: July 4 & 5Presale tickets are available from April 4, head to Toitoi’s website to find out more – www.toitoivenues.co.nz Back to News With the installation of roading and three waters infrastructure to support a new subdivision on Howard St now complete and the first two new roads have been named The infrastructure work started in 2022 and will service the development located between Howard St and Havelock Rd for up to 400 homes, including a 35-unit lifestyle village being developed by TUMU Property, part of the TUMU Group. For more information on this go to https://www.peakviews.co.nz/ TW Group is also developing housing in the subdivision and has its first listings available, with two houses currently in construction. More information on this here. this infrastructure will also support Cranford Hospice which recently announced it had entered a conditional contract to buy a 1.1 hectare property between Howard St and Havelock Rd Two designated local roads are being built through the site and recently Council went through the process of naming them councillors decided to go ahead with the names Valona Lane and Masters Crescent reflecting the recent history of two of the families who had market gardens and orchards in this area Council also decided that as the area develops two further roads will be named recognising the wetlands that were of significance to tangata whenua These roads will be Ngākaroro (seagulls) and Ngāhari (freshwater clams) This road has been named in celebration of the Gee family who owned and/or leased a lot of land in the development area Ken and Eileen Gee had extensive market gardens This road has been named to celebrate the Masters family that has been growing on this land for more than four generations after Alfred and Lydia Masters bought a 40ha block of hops in 1889 In 1916 they stopped growing hops and in 1922 their son Sydney started to convert some of the property into an orchard Anthony (Tony) purchased the property in 1980 and continued growing and packing apples and pears in the area Council’s Road Naming Policy requires consultation with ward councillors for the proposed location and also with Council’s Pou Ahurea Matua Māori advisor The policy also has criteria for considering suitable road names and whether there’s any significant feature The names also need to be accepted by Land Information New Zealand and fit with the requirements of the Australia/New Zealand Standard for Rural and Urban Addressing Council thanks the two families for sharing their histories to help inform this decision and to celebrate their contribution to the district Back to My Hastings Operating hours of Council's services and facilities over Anzac Day Back to Home Full stomachs and wide smiles were the order of the day at Friday evening’s Hastings Meatball Festival as up to 5,000 attendees crowded into the CBD to sample the delectaball treats on offer believed to be the first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand will become an annual celebration of the city’s iconic meatball history and vibrant food scene “The inaugural Hastings Meatball Festival was simply fantastic,” begins the Mayor “It was so special to see our Hastings centre packed full of happy faces devouring thousands of meatballs from our talented hospitality businesses and an honour to have New Zealand chefs Peter Gordon and Ben Bayly join us partnering with EIT and Matangi respectively.” cookbook author and culinary superstar who took out the coveted People’s Choice Award for best meatball vegetarian and sweet spheres were sampled by a willing crowd Partnering with the talented students from the EIT Hospitality School their award- winning creation was a First Light Wagyu meatball with labneh which wowed the crowd with its innovative flavours and exquisite presentation Second place was claimed by Black Betty BBQ with a richly flavoured brisket meatball complemented by jalapeños and cheese sauce a tie between Cellar 495 for its Hawaiian-style meatball Shaneo's Bakehouse with a classic crumbed meatball and Gina's Food Truck who impressed with a spiced lamb birra ball EIT and Peter Gordon will be inducted into the Hastings ‘Ball of Fame’ “This festival has been a fabulous collaboration between Council and local businesses and we are very grateful to all our foodies for getting involved and to the community for joining us We’re also very grateful to TW Group and Progressive Meats Limited for their support Tourism and Events Lead at Hastings District Council says the public response has also been overwhelmingly positive “Our social media pages have been flooded with feedback – most are telling us the festival was well organised The reaction from vendors has also been glowing Damon McGinniss of Heretaunga Street’s Craft & Social has described the event as “magic” and “an overwhelming success” “It was so fantastic to have so many positive people out on a beautiful night enjoying the lifestyle that Hastings provides Wicked work from HDC and the team,” he concludes The Council is now refining the Hastings Meatball Festival concept in preparation for a second year “We hope the Hastings Meatball Festival will become an annual tradition,” says Mayor Hazlehurst there is definitely demand from a community who clearly just loves what the festival offers And it’s great to see Hastings is now firmly entrenched as the meatball capital of the country Back to News An off-road motorbike that hit a woman in Hastings was being driven by a 14 year-old and carrying a 17-year-old passenger They said the motorbike crashed between Hapia St and Orchard Rd and may have been attempting to undertake a turning vehicle when the crash happened while one teen was critically injured and the other had serious injuries A Hastings cafe worker described the shocking moment she saw the motorbike crash and hit a woman leaving the shop who works at Angkor Wat Kiwi Bakery & Cafe said a young woman was hit at "fast speed" right after walking out the door Maobun said she had been cleaning and heard a bang before she turned around to see the woman get hit One of our customers was about to leave our doors and she just got hit in the leg and went straight to the ground," she said Maobun said the motorbike crashed into the tables outside the cafe before hitting the ground Road policing manager inspector Angela Hallett said they were still piecing together the events but said both bikes travelling past the cafe were subject to complaints "a short-time earlier" Police did not follow-up on the complaints before the crash Hallett said officers were also forced to form a barrier to protect first responders from a number of people at the scene who became abusive She said a man was also arrested at the scene for breaching bail after he drove a car onto the crash scene footpath The Serious Crash Unit had been notified and cordons were put in place An artist’s impression of the KiwiRail fencing and the upgraded Hastings city centre * An initial version of this article stated that the fountain beside the rail line is being removed There is a plan to fence what KiwiRail says is a “dangerous” railway crossing through the Hastings city centre As a result, Hastings District Council will upgrade the 50-year-old precinct at the heart of the CBD down the outdoor mall between Paper Plus and Market St The total cost of the project will be $3.45 million A price tag of $800,000 has been given for the works on the outdoor mall stretch – from Paper Plus to Market St – paid through a targeted rate on CBD businesses The council is contributing up to $2m for the elements related to the KiwiRail project as provided in the council’s Long-Term Plan one business owner in the outdoor mall says the concept of walking malls is outdated and the council should use the opportunity to bring back customer parking in front of shops Suzelle Lingerie and Swimwear owner Lyndy Bass says while she will always support progress and likes the look of the upgrade “as a business owner in a dead zone I would like the council to consider opening up the road in front of the businesses for parking” Traffic was blocked to the Hastings CBD as part of the ring road system in 1972 The block remains the only one in the central city not open to any form of car traffic The council says the revitalisation will address its infrastructure issues in the city centre as consulted on with residents in last year’s Long-Term Plan KiwiRail said it would fence the pedestrian rail crossing between the existing fencing on either side through the fountain after a safety assessment rated it as among the most dangerous in the country KiwiRail chief infrastructure officer André Lovatt said there were several concerns including children playing at the water fountain feature and limited active warnings on the pedestrian crossing approaches “This creates issues for pedestrians with poor hearing or who are distracted by headphones or mobile phones.” Lovatt said there had been no reports of deaths or injuries at the Heretaunga St pedestrian level crossings The council said it had worked with KiwiRail on its planning and design process to mitigate the visual impact of the project It will be funded through a targeted rate paid by city centre businesses as will an adjacent Market St partial upgrade The plan included replacing the fountain with a new design given its ageing pipes had leaking issues which were increasingly difficult to manage and would be almost impossible to address once KiwiRail fenced the rail corridor The CBD stage area will be moved to another public site and more car parking will be added to the Northern Carpark near the shopping area The street upgrade of the area between the mall and Market St will include landscaping and improved lighting bringing that area into line with the surrounding city centre streets A portion of Market St will also undergo its scheduled street upgrade Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said while funding constraints during cyclone recovery and cost increases meant many planned city centre projects had been delayed given the KiwiRail safety work could not be delayed “We support KiwiRail’s focus on safety and we must address the ageing infrastructure issues in that space but at the same time we need to maintain strong connections between the two sides of our city we have been able to come up with a solution that means we get the very best out of this Hastings City Business Association general manager Lucinda Perry said the design had received positive feedback from its members said it would be simple to allow cars to come on from Market St and turn by the railway line “like a cul-de-sac” Making it easier for customers to get to you is important.” Hastings commemorates the anniversary of the 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake A special ceremony open to the general public is held at the Hastings City Centre Mall to remember the day that changed lives in Hastings and wider Hawke's Bay and to celebrate the city and community around us Stories of how the event reshaped Hastings are told and wreaths are laid at the clock tower in memory of the lives lost in the earthquake with the clock tower bells ringing at 10.47 the exact time the quake struck our region For more information on the earthquake see Hawke's Bay 1931. And we were totally innocent.” So wrote Sandy Smith “My idea was that everyone was going to be incredibly brave with drums beating and bands playing and I was going to be bravest among the brave.” Max Hastings first wrote about the Allied invasion of Normandy in his massive tome Overlord a conventional top-down war book published in 1984 This new book accords with recent historiographical trends; it’s about individual soldiers in particular the British who attacked Sword Beach The 2025/26 Hastings District Council Annual Plan has been distributed to residents this week outlining council’s financial strategy and this year’s rate increase This Annual Plan aligns with Year 2 of the 2024–2034 Long-Term Plan (LTP) which was consulted on last year and shaped by significant community input Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said that after another year of getting on with the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery Council’s focus for the year ahead remained on investing in renewing “This reflects the feedback we received when we consulted with the community on our Long- Term Plan last year – which sets out Council’s direction and priorities for the next 10 years “This includes rebuilding our district’s roads and bridges and maintaining existing and delivering new water infrastructure “We also heard from our community that they want us to continue with our work in key areas to enable economic growth and support the development of more homes for our people “We have achieved the $2.7 million savings we committed to and where necessary we are reprioritising funding to ensure we stay within our budget.” The 2025/26 rate increase has not changed from that adopted in the LTP – being 15 per cent nine per cent of which is the base increase and six per cent allocated to the cyclone recovery The total cost of running Council for the 2025/26 year totals $488m This includes $254m for key infrastructure such as cyclone-related road and bridge repairs Ōmarunui Landfill expansion and investment in three waters infrastructure (drinking water Council continues to deliver vital services - regulatory functions Mrs Hazlehurst said there was no doubt that the community was facing very challenging economic times “We are taking a strategic approach to ensure we deliver projects effectively and efficiently making organisational cost savings to minimise the burden on our ratepayers “We are committed to investing to support a resilient and prosperous district that is well-positioned for the future.” For further information, visit: www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/annual-plan-2025-2026 Back to News Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Valentine Rd at around 12.15pm. "Sadly, despite best efforts by emergency services, the sole occupant died at the scene," police said. St John said it sent one rapid response unit to the scene. The Civil Aviation Authority had been notified of the incident involving a glider, it said in a statement. "We are working alongside emergency services and have investigators travelling to the scene. In the coming days our focus will be on understanding what happened and why." Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Valentine Rd at around 12.15pm. (Source: 1News) One person has died after a glider crashed in Hastings this afternoon. One person has died after a glider crashed in Hastings this afternoon Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Valentine Rd at around 12.15pm the sole occupant died at the scene," police said St John said it sent one rapid response unit to the scene The Civil Aviation Authority had been notified of the incident involving a glider "We are working alongside emergency services and have investigators travelling to the scene In the coming days our focus will be on understanding what happened and why." Grant Bruce Jarden died in a glider crash in Hastings A Hastings man who lost his life in a glider crash has been remembered by his family as a volunteering legend and one of the hearts of the flying community in the region died on Sunday after the glider he was piloting crashed near the boundary of Hastings Aerodrome and the Hawke’s Bay Golf Club Grant trained many young and emerging glider pilots to fly across the region He was on a solo flight and being towed by a light plane from the Bridge Pā Aerodrome when the glider he was piloting crashed onto the No 10 fairway of the Hawke’s Bay Golf Club course on Valentine Rd A witness golfing nearby previously told Hawke’s Bay Today the glider had been above the tow plane and the rope between them almost “vertical” before it came apart The glider then went into a steep descent and crashed The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating said she would remember her husband as a man with a classic and cheeky personality “He said when he went to Sunday School he learned ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ “That’s why he got involved in so many things.” Mandy and Grant’s son Olly said there was nobody else quite like him “He was [as] silly as a two-bob watch,” said Olly Grant was brought up in Wairoa and lived there most of his life before moving near to Havelock North 25 years ago Mandy recalled a story about a friend from England coming to visit the family in Wairoa and Grant went to pick her up from the airport “The one passenger gets out of the plane and she goes up to the one person waiting and said to him “That was absolutely typical of what he’d do.” The family regularly received homestays from France who worked in exchange for board at their rural property Grant would cheekily greet the visitors at his gate with a sign that read: “No French allowed” “They’d arrive and they’d look at the sign and look at him and you’d see them talking to each other “That’s when I’d have to rush out and say don’t take any notice of him,” laughed Mandy Grant had been helping at the Pony Club Games at the Hawke’s Bay Equestrian Park where he had been working as caretaker for the last year He just had a heart and a passion for everything he was involved in,” she said “Him and his family are just one of a kind As part of his role at Gliding Hawke’s Bay and Waipukurau It was here that he met a young Ryan Maney “I went out there one day and he was the first person I met and from there he was like my person I dealt with literally every weekend for three or four years,” he said “I don’t believe you could get any more liked than him.” was 12 when he first started flying with Grant “I always remembered when I flew with him he’d test me and he’d always put his feet over my shoulders as I am flying,” Maney said “That’s one thing I’ll always remember and he’d say ‘turn left’ and I’d look left and his bloody feet were sitting there in front of me [He had] a really good sense of humour - just a real joker not knowing much about life in general and I just looked up to him “You could almost look up to him as a sort of parent because he taught you to fly a glider by yourself which – I was one of the youngest in the country to do it at 14.” In a Hawke’s Bay Today story from July 2015 about Maney and a group of teenagers learning to fly gliders Grant said he was getting “a lot of satisfaction teaching them” They are picking it up [gliding] a hell of a lot quicker than adults do,” Grant said at the time A celebration service of Grant’s life will be held at Equestrian Park on Equestrian Lane on Friday Attendees are asked to wear bright clothing or an Aertex shirt or shorts and to bring their own chair as seating is limited Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region Ninety-four years after the 1931 earthquake that rocked Hawke’s Bay this year’s annual commemoration in Hastings will again bring people together to honour those who lost their lives as well as those who rebuilt the city and district leading to the loss of 256 lives – 93 in Hastings 161 in Napier and two in Wairoa – and leaving thousands injured and needing medical treatment It was the largest loss of life and caused the most extensive damage of any earthquake in New Zealand's recorded history people are invited to head to the clock tower in the Hastings city mall to pay their respects and remember the huge upheaval and trauma caused impacting people for many years as the recovery and rebuild took place Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was always very special to come together for this commemoration one made even more poignant and meaningful in light of Cyclone Gabrielle “We stand in a city and district today that was rebuilt by the community who came together to bring about the recovery from that devastating event strength and perseverance was evident again in our response to and recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle – while the landscape may change in such events it doesn’t erode the resilience and determination of our community to build back and thrive.” and community members will gather to pay tribute from 10.30am with the clock tower bells set to chime and a minute’s silence to be held at 10.47am to mark the moment the earthquake struck and exhibits in the mall area will showcase photographs and personal accounts of the earthquake The public is warmly invited to participate in the commemorations and take this opportunity to reflect on the past while looking forward to the future Back to News The countdown is on to the Hastings Meatball Festival with Peter Gordon and Ben Bayly joining a stellar line-up of local legends On Friday, March 14, the Hastings CBD is set to swell with up to 25 vendors, all offering their version of the beloved Hawke’s Bay meatball From Italian pork, to prawn and lemongrass, to the ubiquitous crumbed classic Hastings is famous for vying for the people’s choice award and induction into the “Ball of Fame” Peter Gordon will enter the competition with his First Light Farms wagyu beef meatballs with kawakawa salsa verde “I am beyond excited to be part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s first-ever meatball festival,” he said “I’m also rather excited about the other meatballs on offer From what I’ve read they are going to be next level.” Ben Bayly will add a touch of local with his meatball recipe by using Matangi a local premium paddock-to-plate beef producer and butcher There will be meatballs from more than 20 others and a vegan “neatball” from Hastings Distillers Hastings District Council marketing, tourism and experience lead Vicky Roebuck said it was “incrediball” to see the concept take off. “Hastings has always had a reputation for being a bit ballsy. That’s just how we roll, so we thought, let’s celebrate our foodies.” Roebuck said Hastings introduced the European delicacy of a crumbed bitterbal around 50 years ago and since then it’s always been a “local must-eat”. She said they had underestimated how popular the Hastings Meatball Festival would be. Roebuck said talented top chefs would be “stepping up to the grill and using their imaginations to create spicy, sticky, saucy and sweet balls, too”. Bambina will serve a meatball pizza, the “goofballs” at Fun Buns are rebranding, for one night only, to Fun Balls, and Hastings-born artist Dick Frizzell has also joined the party. “He has kindly donated his time and talent to design a special range of meatball merchandise just for the Hastings Meatball Festival,” Roebuck said. The festival is family-friendly, with celebrations kicking off from 5pm and pre-registration for a free ticket is advised. Meatballs can be purchased at individual stations for between $4 and $10 and there will be a street-bar and lounge, live music, entertainment for kids and adults alike, games and a voting system to decide the best bite of the night. The Saturday closure comes amid a proposal to shut Napier Library for at least two years. 29 May 2025 13:004233,274m²Substantial living panoramic vistaNestled within immaculately manicured grounds this substantial residence offers an enviable lifestyle of space a sweeping picture window frames breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape Four expansive living areas provide an abundance of room for family living and year-round entertaining The inviting open-plan living room boasts large bi-fold doors capturing the elevated outlook and offering seamless flow onto the entertaining deck A gas fireplace and heat pump create a warm and welcoming atmosphere Positioned alongside is a beautifully appointed kitchen The formal dining room effortlessly opens to the covered entertaining terrace complete with an outdoor fireplace and a tranquil vista An additional substantial separate living room offers a quiet spot to relax while the separate media room is the perfect space for a cinematic experience the spacious primary suite is a luxurious retreat boasting a private balcony offering panoramic views and a tiled ensuite with a spa bath and double shower Alongside the primary suite is a fourth bedroom and this versatile space would also be ideal as a nursery room or hobby space Two additional double bedrooms are on the ground floor one with bi-fold doors opening to the gardens and one with doors onto a secluded terrace Both have considerable wardrobing and share access to a central family bathroom with concrete block and plaster on cavity construction contemporary comforts include diesel-run underfloor heating and double glazing to the majority of the home A substantial triple garage includes storage space and a WC and ample off-street parking behind an electric entrance gate the established park-like gardens create a serene and private environment while the generous lawn area in front is on its own title with separate driveway access adding potential for future development if desired with properties of comparable quality nearby yet is just a short drive from the vibrant village centre our vendor has now made the move to downsize so don't miss your opportunity to view this thoughtfully designed and perfectly positioned retreat based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started Level 3 water use restrictions are in force in Hastings from today meaning the use of sprinklers and other automated watering systems is banned water use is at levels that are not sustainable The ‘level 3’ sprinkler ban status means the use of any unattended device or hose (including automated systems) is banned Hand-held hoses can be used on gardens between 6am and 8am in the morning and 7pm and 9pm in the evening on alternate days more than 60 million litres of water is currently being used a day – the equivalent of 12 of the large storage tanks at Waiaroha Usage reached a daily peak of 63 million litres on Wednesday which is over 50 per cent more water than is used in winter planter boxes and targeted areas of new plantings in public gardens will receive a small amount of water each night at off-peak times as will batting blocks on cricket pitches which Mr Cave said council had a focus on rapidly fixing leaks in the network there were 24 reported leaks across the wider district and teams were out in force making repairs with the extra pressure on the network given the very high use “Leaks are attended to as quickly as possible We are encouraging people to report them as soon as they see them via the 24-hour phone line 06 871 5000.” Facilities that have their own bores and therefore are able to continue using water include Splash Planet (for irrigation) the racecourse and Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park and the water play feature in Havelock Village Green will continue to operate as they turn off automatically when not in use and are considered a better way of cooling off hot kids than everyone running hoses in their backyard These restrictions apply to all properties connected to a Hastings District Council water supply The last time Council had to go to Level 3 restrictions was in the summer of 2020/21 Read more here. Back to Archive Back to News An upcoming open day will give people the opportunity to see the work being done to improve the quality of the stormwater entering Lowes Pit Lowes Pit was originally a quarry in the 1940s used to extract rock and gravel for building local roads it naturally filled with water and was later used to drain stormwater from industrial properties that were too low to easily link into the Council stormwater system stormwater with unwanted contaminants began entering the pit although consented to receive industrial stormwater could pose a risk to the Heretaunga Plains aquifer Council undertook independent assessments to determine the risks and find solutions This confirmed the risk of contaminants passing through Lowes Pit and into the groundwater and bores beneath was very low but Council wanted to further mitigate any potentially adverse effects a three-barrier approach was adopted in order to improve the quality of stormwater entering Lowes Pit the public is invited come and see what has been done and learn more about how it works to reduce contaminants Back to My Hastings “Sticking to the plan” was the overriding message as Hastings district councillors yesterday [Tuesday February 18] unanimously agreed to carry out an inform and explain public engagement process on the 2025/26 Annual Plan This recognised that extensive community consultation was carried out on the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan (LTP) last year of which the 2025/26 Annual Plan represented year two and that there was no change to the aims and focus of the LTP Provisions within the Local Government Act 2002 allow councils to adopt Annual Plans without prior consultation and given there were no significant changes from the LTP this was recommended as the best course of action Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said Council’s focus on critical infrastructure was a promise made to ratepayers as a result of last year’s consultation “This reflects that all of our funding is fully committed to the Cyclone Gabrielle rebuild and other critical infrastructure and that there is no financial headroom to bring in other projects “To hold formal consultation would imply that we are able to accommodate new projects and changes wanted by our people – that is not the case and therefore the pressing need is to ensure residents understand the Year 2 priorities as set out in the Long Term Plan.” A 15 per cent increase in rating review is forecast in the LTP for 2025 – six per cent of that ring-fenced for cyclone recovery costs and nine per cent to meet the rising cost of delivering core services particularly in the transport and three waters areas Mrs Hazlehurst said that in terms of cyclone recovery council was on track with the work programme “This includes the underpinning assumptions that we would build back over seven to 10 years and within the budgets set We have also committed to identifying savings across the organisation and where necessary we are reprioritising funding “Councillors made it very clear to management today that the community needs to be fully informed about what was planned in Year 2 of the Long Term Plan.” Information on the key drivers within the plan the fiscal context and the substantial work programme ahead will be communicated to residents in April this year The draft Annual Plan will come back to Council for adoption in June this year Back to News Hastings District and Napier City Councils are calling for final feedback on the draft Joint Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) 2025-2031 The WMMP is a comprehensive plan that outlines how councils plan to manage and minimisation waste and promote a circular economy – including actions and targets The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 requires all territorial authorities to adopt and review their WMMP every six years and this draft plan is the result of that review Councils have worked closely with mana whenua and other key partners to develop the draft plan In May and June 2024 ideas were sought from the public via an online platform and a stand at the local home show A series of sector-specific workshops and hui were also held to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders including representatives from the construction Hastings District Council waste manager Angela Atkins said the feedback had been valuable with contributions from a wide range of sectors and communities across the region ensuring a true collaboration of local voices “The diversity of perspectives has been vital in shaping a comprehensive draft plan that includes a Te Ao Māori world view and reflects the values and priorities of Heretaunga Hastings and Ahuriri Napier “We’re excited to refine the draft plan with even more input during the consultation process and be that bit closer to adopting the final plan.” The new draft plan identifies four key focus areas; feeding the soil strengthening opportunities and teaching and empowering Consultation is open now until Sunday 11 May 2025 and organisations are encouraged to provide their feedback on the proposed actions and initiatives Feedback can be submitted online at www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz or through hardcopy forms available at Hastings’ and Napier libraries and council customer service desks The final WMMP will be presented to the councils for adoption later in 2025 Back to My Hastings