Hastings, New Zealand Attractions

The town of Hastings lies 20km south of Napier in the fertile Heretaunga plain with its numerous fruit plantations and parks. The town's economy centers on food industries (canning, fruit processing, meat-freezing plants).

In 1864 a group of 12 settlers, known as the 'twelve apostles', bought land in the Heretaunga plain. One of them, Francis Hicks, founded the settlement in 1873. It was originally to be called Hicksville, but this was replaced by its present name, in honor of Warren Hastings, first governor general of the East India Company. Like its neighbor, Napier, Hastings was hit by a severe earthquake in 1931, in which several dozen people were killed and many buildings were totally destroyed. The rebuilding of the town was largely in art-deco style.