From new art exhibitions, to recognition of Vet Services HB, to new Heretaunga Dam website, to next round of Pan Pac business awards, to Hastings housing progress, to new Board for Regional Development Agency, here are some notable items you might have missed.
New exhibitions – Hastings Art gallery
Two up-and-coming Hastings artists – one with recent international exposure and another having her very first hometown exhibition – are about to show their latest work at the home of contemporary art in Hawke’s Bay.
Wonder Goggles: Vanessa Arthur and Tales of a New Moon: Yasmin Dubrau open this Saturday, June 14. Arthur is a contemporary jeweller, while Dubrau works between weaving, photography, watercolour, mobiles and origami.
Wonder Goggles explores connections between jewellery, paint and everyday surroundings. It includes wearable and painted objects crafted from offcuts, precious metals, stones and industrial materials.
Tales of a New Moon is Yasmin Dubrau’s first solo exhibition at a public gallery. She creates abstract landscapes in her work, drawing patterns and shapes from the environment and architecture. Dubrau’s watercolours reference Japanese ink painting and calligraphy, as she lived there for several years.
The exhibitions will both run until 11 October. The gallery will be holding a programme of events alongside the exhibitions.
For the latest details, check hastingsartgallery.co.nz
Vet Services HB recognised
At the New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) conference, the Veterinary Business Excellence Award was presented to Vet Services Hawke’s Bay (VSHB).
Outgoing NZVA President Dr Kate Hill said a standout example of VSHB’s proactive leadership was the establishment of Hawke’s Bay Urgent Care & After Hours Veterinary Clinic earlier this year.
“This innovative facility is the first of its kind in the region, and is a significant step towards ensuring the sustainability of veterinary care in Hawke’s Bay. In the few months it has been operating, the clinic has proved to be of great benefit not only to VSHB staff but all veterinary practices in Hastings, Napier and Central Hawke’s Bay.
“VSHB is a trailblazer in fostering collaboration within the veterinary profession and wider community. They have established partnerships with Save the Kiwi, the National Aquarium of New Zealand, the SPCA, and key industry bodies such as the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association and Wormwise. Every year, they sponsor more than 100 charities, clubs, sporting events and initiatives in their community, including the Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter, Surfing for Farmers, the Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Industry Awards, Ruahine Animal Rescue, local A&P shows, and Horse of the Year.”
Heretaunga Dam website launched
The HB Regional Council is advancing a proposal to build a medium-sized community water storage reservoir on land near Whanawhana providing increased supply as part of its broader water management strategy. The estimated $200m+ reservoir would take peak flow water during winter to store for release into rivers and the aquifer during summer, when water extraction places pressure on rivers, streams and groundwater. The reservoir would store 27 million cubic metres (mm3) of water.
Pre-feasibility assessments have indicated that the site is suitable and likely to be viable. HBRC is now undertaking a rigorous assessment to clearly determine technical and commercial viability. Only at that point, with a favourable feasibility assessment, would Council consider moving into resource consenting.
Here’s the just launched website, which further describes the proposed scheme.
Pan Pac business awards – entries wanted
The search is on for Hawke’s Bay’s best businesses, with the launch of the 2025 Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Business Awards. Businesses can enter multiple categories, including two new additions: Outstanding Māori or Pasifika Business and Best Micro Business. The other categories are: Best Emerging Business, Outstanding Social Impact, Excellence in Business and People’s Choice.
Wairoa’s civil construction firm Quality Roading and Services took home the award for Outstanding Social Impact last year. Chief executive Jeremy Harker says the awards are a valuable opportunity to get objective feedback for your business, regardless of its size or stage. “And in tougher times, it’s good to get your brand out there, so people know you and understand what you’re about.”
Entries close 8 August.
For more information, please visit https://hbbusinessawards.nz/
Hastings housing progress
Hastings’ place-based housing strategy is delivering tangible outcomes for local families, as shown in the latest economic report for the district.
The March 2025 Infometrics Quarterly Economic Monitor, received at the end of May, revealed a strong lift in housing activity and some easing of housing stress across the region.
Hastings recorded a 23.8% increase in house sales over the past year – nearly double the national rate – and a 23.3% rise in First Home Loan purchases, in contrast to national declines. Meanwhile, the number of public houses increased to 1503 in Hastings over that year, while the number of households in emergency accommodation fell by 61%.
Since 2019, the place-based partnership approach has included Hastings District Council, iwi, Government and non-government agencies, and community housing providers.
Practical outcomes of the plan to date had included consenting for 13 new papakāinga developments, 1500 new RSE accommodation beds (to take pressure off the rental and first home markets), more than 350 homes being built in Flaxmere comprising senior housing, affordable housing, and social housing, and a range of private developments across the district.
New REDA Board
The HB Regional Development Agency is undergoing redefinition over the next several months. In the meantime its stakeholders – area councils and iwi leaders – have appointed a new ‘interim’ Board, consisting of:
Andrew Gibbs
Andrew is a retired Partner of Deloitte and recently returned to Hawke’s Bay following an extensive career that included general consultancy and corporate finance. Andrew is now an independent director and business consultant, providing a range of services to the agriculture, private and local government sectors and he currently sits on the GP Boards of four of Craigmore Sustainables’ managed funds and is the Chair of Preston Corporation.
Meka Whaitiri
Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tamanuhiri, Ngāti Porou. With a Master’s in Education from Victoria University of Wellington, Meka has over 30 years of governance and work experience across the sports, education, iwi, community development, local & central government sectors. She served as a Labour MP and presently sits on a number of Māori trust boards.
John Loughlin
John is Chair of Rockit Global Limited, Powerco Limited, Coda GP Limited and Dairy Technology Services Limited. In his governance career John has served on numerous boards including ZESPRI, FirstLight Foods, Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers, Meat Industry Association of NZ, Port of Napier and AgResearch Limited. John and his wife Kathryn established and own Askerne Estate Winery near Havelock North, where they live.
