Home : Community : Migrants and refugees

Hastings District welcomes many new citizens and residents every year. This section contains useful information and advice for anyone considering a move to Hawke's Bay.
| IN THIS SECTION | |
| Citizenship | |
| Employment | |
| Settlement support | |
| Useful links | |
Introduction
Hawke's Bay has a population of around 150,000 spread between two main cities (Hastings and Napier) and a number of smaller towns and settlements.
The area is known for its fresh food, world-class wine and mild climate. Most of the population of Hastings District resides on the fertile Heretaunga Plains, in the rain shadow of the Kaweka, Ruahine and Kaimanawa mountain ranges. This geographical arrangement gives the region a higher-than-average number of sun hours each year, making it popular with tourists and holiday makers.
Citizenship
Hastings welcomes more than a hundred new New Zealand citizens each year. Citizenship ceremonies are held regularly - visit the Citizenship Ceremonies section of the website for more information.
Employment
Unless you are a New Zealand citizen you may need to apply for a work visa or permit. Visit the Immigration New Zealand website for more information.
Permanent employment is advertised through the usual channels - industry websites, newspapers and general job vacancy websites.
Hastings attracts a large number of seasonal workers for the fruit industry. The PickNZ website is designed to connect potential workers and employers.
Hastings District Council advertises its job vacancies on this site. Napier City Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council also list vacancies online.
Settlement support
Settlement Support Hawke's Bay offers a range of services and information to help new and potential migrants settle in Hawke's Bay. These include:
- Finding services for you and your family as you settle in Hawke's Bay
- Links to community groups and support services in Hawke's Bay
- English language courses
You can contact the Settlement Support Coordinator, Nina Siers, on:
- ninas@napier.govt.nz
- Ph 06 835 2723
- Room 8 Level 2 Napier Community House
62 Raffles Street
Napier
Useful Links
- The Hastings Library new settlers page has a list of useful links for new migrants
- The Live>Work>Play site offers additional information about living and working in Hastings District.






