The Hastings district, situated on the Heretaunga Plains and covering just over a third of Hawke’s Bay, is at the forefront of regional growth.

Increasingly, people are moving to the wider Hastings area to establish themselves in business, seeking a more relaxed and less congested way of life.

Being an inland city, Hastings is an ideal place to establish a business because of its links with the Hawke’s Bay heartland and because it has room to grow. An expressway connects Hastings to sister city Napier, the airport and the port - all are only a short 15 to 20 minute drive away.

The city also sits on the main eastern North Island rail corridor operated by Tollrail.

Surrounded by sheep and beef farming, Hastings also has a strong horticultural sector growing crops for export and local processing. It is the largest apple producing area in New Zealand, and has a thriving, world-famous wine industry.

Food processing contributes significantly to the economic success of Hastings, with global food giants Heinz Watties and McCain both operating large plants.

And with so much production there’s a skilled engineering sector to service all the industries, as well as developing its stand-alone export business.

All these workers need somewhere to live, so the local construction industry is benefiting from both the growth in new housing demand and from ongoing industrial/commercial investment.

To visit the Hawke's Bay Regional Tourism website click here.