Hastings is coming Alive! Since 2019 we have been carrying out a series of upgrades to our streets, footpaths, public spaces and laneways – all designed to bring life, fun and vibrancy to our beautiful city centre.
With the support of our inner city property owners, we are investing in making the heart of our city the go-to place for shopping, entertainment, the arts, hosting visitors, relaxing, eating and doing business.
With a growing schedule of art and entertainment installations and events, and a burgeoning retail and hospitality sector, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Latest news
Mark the date for Taste Hastings street party
Mark your calendars for Taste Hastings, the award-winning street party of epic proportions set to return to Heretau...
29 October 2024
Hastings’ retail spend keeps rising
Retail spending in Hastings continues to grow – outstripping national growth by almost two per cent.
3 May 2024
Christmas comes to Albert Square
Albert Square is being transformed into Christmas Central from today until December 25 with displays and activities...
15 December 2023
Things are getting tasty at Hastings street party
Taste Hastings is back – and that means it’s party time in the East Block – with wine, food, live music and m...
7 November 2023
Hastings city centre revitalisation earns top Local Government award
Described as “the very essence of successful placemaking”, the 10-year regeneration of Hastings city’s East B...
13 June 2023
City Centre update - May 2023
The resource consent to demolish and redevelop the site at 206 Queen Street and 223 Heretaunga Street West has been...
22 May 2023
Funding boost for future safekeeping of regional collection
The development of a new facility to house the Hawke’s Bay Regional Museum collection has taken a major step forw...
7 December 2022
Santa’s Grotto open for visitors at Toitoi
Santa’s coming to town, and starting from today is looking forward to meeting children and families at his specia...
1 December 2022
City centre update - November 2022
Preparations are underway to install Christmas decorations around the city centre streets and open a Santa’s Grot...
10 November 2022
Taste Hastings street party
Wine, food, live music and fun are all on the menu for the F.A.W.C! Taste Hastings event taking place in East Block...
3 November 2022
The Big Apple Project reaches fruitful conclusion with successful auction
The Big Apple Project came to a spectacular conclusion last night, with an auction for the artworks netting just on...
27 October 2022
New life for old buildings on Queen and Heretaunga Sts West proposed
There are exciting plans afoot for the western end of Hastings city, where a proposed new development will add to H...
11 October 2022
Fotofest photography event hits Hastings
What happens when a group of friends that share the love of photography start to plan an event that brings togethe...
5 September 2022
Rush Munro’s moving to Albert Square
Iconic Hastings business Rush Munro’s is moving into the heart of Hastings city, after 90 years at its present si...
2 September 2022
New inner city mural hearkens to district’s rural past
A building with a strong link to rural Hawke’s Bay and Hastings city has had its history brought to life with a n...
12 August 2022
Bringing Hastings Alive! How far we've come ...
For more than 10 years now, our inner city streets have been undergoing upgrades, and while a big focus in the past...
4 August 2022
Mural design depicts community kaupapa and facility logos
Another artwork has popped up in Hastings, this time on the fencing around an empty site opposite Toitoi – Hawke'...
3 August 2022
City Centre update - June 2022
For the first time this year we are celebrating the new public holiday for Matariki, and in addition to other event...
20 June 2022
City centre update – May 2022
Work is advancing well on the major street upgrades outside the Municipal Buildings ahead of its opening in August,...
20 May 2022
Action Plan boosts activity in Hastings city; free parking for month of July
A ‘COVID Recovery Action Plan’ comprising new and enhanced existing events and activations is set to bring a bu...
12 May 2022
Exciting new tenants ready for Municipal Building re-opening
Hastings city centre is set to become an even bigger ‘hot spot’ with Hastings District Council announcing an ex...
13 April 2022
City centre update - April 2022
From an exciting interactive, virtual reality exhibition at Hastings City Art Gallery to a special Anzac Day light ...
7 April 2022
March 2022 update
While much attention has been focused on managing our way through the COVID outbreak, Council has also been plannin...
14 March 2022
Flamingos pay flying visit to Hastings city centre
A flock of giant flamingos has landed in the city centre fountain – set to brighten up the mall for the next mont...
18 February 2022
December update - what's new and coming up in the Hastings city centre
Christmas is nearly here, and there’s a festive feel across the city centre. Read below some updates on our inner...
14 December 2021
Christmas gets lit in Hastings city centre
Christmas is getting lit in Hastings city centre this month, with special festive lighting and pop-up installations...
3 December 2021
Come and explore the Cactus Garden
Two years ago we had the giant inflatable “Shrooms”, and this year visitors to Civic Square in Hastings will be...
20 October 2021
The Sphere lands in Albert Square
The Sphere has landed. Visitors to Hastings city have a new installation to enjoy, with the arrival of Kōtahu & T...
30 September 2021
August update – Taste Hastings, Façade Enhancement, city centre activations and more…
Our city centre is set to come alive with an exciting range of events over the next couple of months as we emerge f...
17 August 2021
July update - what's new and happening in the city centre in coming weeks
There's a lot happening in the city centre over the coming months as the street upgrades continue, and the busy Spr...
14 July 2021
Hastings District Council launches lightbox photo competition
Hastings’ city centre will soon come alive with large-scale photos taken by local residents, thanks to a competit...
28 May 2021
Innovating Streets work aims to create sanctuary in inner Hastings
The transformation of Heretaunga St East is about to enter a new phase, with work starting on more enhancements to ...
5 May 2021
Special opening event for revamped Landmarks Square
Close to 50 people gathered at Landmarks Square last Friday night to celebrate the recently completed upgrade of th...
17 March 2021
Jazz duo playing at Landmarks Square re-opening
Wil Sargisson and Margot Pierard, the woman with a “velvet voice as smooth as latte”, will be the first to grac...
10 March 2021
Site works begin on Quest Hastings city hotel build
Work has begun this month on the new Quest Apartment Hotel being built in Hastings, the culmination of a long-stand...
22 December 2020
Let there be light in Civic Square
Another lighting installation is coming to brighten up Civic Square, sure to inspire and delight visitors to Hastin...
7 August 2020
Outdoor dining areas on track for summer socialising
This summer, the east side of Hastings is set to become a popular outdoor socialising space as work to develop the ...
31 July 2020
Hastings District Council adopts Arts, Culture and Events Recovery Plan
Arts and culture open days, free performances, lighting installations, art tours and more are on the Hastings event...
17 July 2020
Funding for Hastings inner city street development
Hastings’ Eastside Eat Street project has received a funding boost that will further enhance one of the city’s ...
22 June 2020
City centre revitalisation continues with Karamū Road North upgrade
The enhancement of Hastings’ city centre continues next week with work scheduled to begin on the Karamū Road Nor...
21 February 2020
Last installations for summer will light up city centre
To see out the last of summer, Hastings District Council has two more exciting, large-scale lighting and sound inst...
20 February 2020
New giant lighting installation coming to Hastings city centre
Another spectacular lighting installation is coming to Hastings this week, but wait there’s more…this display h...
11 February 2020
All welcome to Cornwall Park playground
The finishing touches are being applied and preparations are afoot to celebrate the opening of the revamped Cornwal...
13 December 2019
Hastings Alive November 2019 Update
There is a lot happening in the Hastings City centre. Read all about in our latest newsletter update.
27 November 2019
Large light sculptures to pop up in Hastings city
Hastings City centre will light up in the lead up to Christmas this year, with two temporary, spectacular, large-sc...
22 November 2019
District plan variation paves way for inner city living
Another step has been made towards creating more vibrancy in the Hastings city centre with changes now made to the ...
8 August 2019
New city centre hotel will stimulate growth and extra vibrancy
A new 35-room apartment-style hotel is to be built in the Hastings city centre in a vacant building behind the Hawk...
24 May 2019
Blessing held for church garden development
In May 2018, the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church submitted to the Hastings District Council Annual Plan, seeking ...
17 April 2019
New Queen St proposal part of city vibrancy initiative
A block of land on Queen St West will be turned into an off-street carpark and covered walkway providing greater co...
25 March 2019
Hastings’ city centre revitalisation underway
The enhancement of Hastings’ city centre is officially underway with the adoption of a public spaces revitalisati...
1 March 2019
