Hastings, Hawkes Bay

Hastings is the place I have long desired to live. When I first started work I tried to move to Hastings. Then again 15 years later I tried. Yet it was 20 years from my first attempt before I was able to find employment in the Fruit Bowl of New Zealand.

This description makes me giggle, The Fruit Bowl. Who names these places? Sure we grow fresh fruit of every description. So much so that the sweet smell of fruit is on the air in the evening. We bottle it and eat it fresh, We make sure our children have a diet rich with the bounty of our land. Yet it in no way describes the real richness that is Hastings in the summer time.

Here we have rivers fresh and clean. Deep and slow, beautiful to swim in, in the daytimes with the kids or lazing in the evenings with a picnic. No dangerous animals here, it is safe and amazingly relaxing. Your hair is reborn in the natural waters.

But no, you like beaches, well we have them too. With a choice of pebbly, rocky shore, or soft sand. So what is your preference? Searching with the children in the rock pools for sea cucumbers and star fish, Long line fishing off the rocks, catching brighteyed snapper for your dinner, or maybe you prefer to hit the surf and catch some waves. We have all this and swimming beaches too. Like the salt but not the waves. We have brand new saltwater swimming pools some heated like spas and some cool and refreshing.

Not your scene. We in our fruit bowl we have recently discovered that grapes grow here too and of an extremely high quality. And so we have wineries, so many of them beautiful clean green organic wineries. We have wine trails that would take weeks to complete. The quality of the wines are winning awards worldwide. It is because of our natural gravel riverbed soil and our warm steady climate.

Not a wine drinker well if beer is your thing, then Roosters Brewhouse is for you. All naturally brewed from local hops. This is one of the best kept secrets of Hastings. It isn't exported, it isn't even distributed locally it is only available from the brewhouse. Though if you ask nicely they will fill a bottle for you to take away. This beer is not for the faint hearted it is made in lager and dark and several other variations to suit your taste. It is strong and full of rich flavours.

Hastings is a multi cultural City and especially now when we have backpackers from all over the world harvesting the fruit. I was recently in Europe and I was surprised by the sameness of the people on the streets. We have every tribe and every nation living here. It makes gives us more understanding of others and gives an appreciation of how wonderful New Zealand is. We just don't realise here how lucky we are. We have oftimes called New Zealand Godzone and now I understand just how true that really is. We are still the land where if you work hard you can get somewhere. Welcome to my beautiful home. Haere mai haere mai haere mai.

Katherine S

Submitted: Saturday 28th February 2004, 5:26 AM

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