From plotting Havelock North Village’s future, to Vet Services award, to HDC credit downgrade, to more happenings from HB Music Hub, to Ruataniwha Dam V.2 forum, to ridding your household chemicals, to new tradies for HB, to MTG hosts Te Papa traveling exhibition, to local artists at CHB Museum, here are some notable items you might have missed.

Future of Havelock North Village

HDC has begun an engagement process seeking views on how local residents and businesses would like to see Havelock North’s village centre develop further.

A village framework developed back in 2008 has now been overtaken by substantial change, so Council is reviewing the 2008 framework and is inviting the community to have a say on what comes next.  

Says HDC: “The review will consider how transport, public spaces, and business areas can evolve to meet the needs of a growing population whilst recognising the character that makes Havelock North distinct.”

The handiest way to get involved is to complete this online survey at https://www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz/hdc/help-shape-the-future-of-havelock-north-village/ 

Unfortunately, the comprehensive survey is full of ‘must respond’ questions, so have a coffee, beer or glass of wine handy as you set out to complete it.

Street interviews are also being conducted:

• Wednesday 26 March, 9am – 12pm (behind the isite, rain day: Friday 28 March) 
• Saturday 4 April, 9am – 12pm (Village Green). 

You can also volunteer for a ‘deep dive’ interview by emailing Council’s research partner at [email protected]. 

Remember, when the old New World site is converted into a gaming casino, you can’t say you weren’t asked for your opinion!

Vet Services HB wins top honour

The NZ Veterinary Assn has awarded its 2025 Veterinary  Business Excellence Award to Vet Services Hawke’s Bay (VSHB).

VSHB, says the announcement, “has earned a reputation as a supportive and visionary employer, consistently prioritising the professional wellbeing and development of their staff. The Veterinary Business Excellence Award recognises business excellence that supports employee wellbeing, workplace innovation, entrepreneurial flair, professional leadership and collaboration, and/or customer service in a way that reflects positively on the veterinary profession.”

Per their website: “Vet Services now employs over 100 people across our three Hawkes Bay Clinics. We place an emphasis on happiness and team work to create a workplace that is fun, productive and successful.  Many of our senior staff joined Vet Services as new graduates and are now part of our leadership team. Vet Services are proudly not a corporate. With a team of nine owners all living locally and actively working within our clinics.”

Full disclosure: BayBuzz is proud to have Vet Services HB as a regular advertiser! 

HDC credit downgraded

Standard & Poor has downgraded the credit ratings of a number NZ local councils, including the Hastings District Council.

This is based on an overall assessment of the sector, given its revenue constraints in the face of rising infrastructure costs. A S&P webinar noted specifically the uncertainty around financing of water services, and also noted cuts in Crown grants and expansion of unfunded mandates being given to local councils by central government.

HDC deputy chief executive Bruce Allan quantifies the impact: “Any new Council borrowing, which includes refinancing of maturing debt, will incur an increase of five basis points (or 0.05%) on the margins that we borrow from the Local Government Funding Agency at. For example, if Council borrows or refinances $50m next year that will incur an additional cost of $25,000 per annum when compared to the previous credit rating.”

Sounds low impact, but piranha eat you in small nibbles!

Allan explains further: “S&P signalled last year that it was reviewing its Local Government institutional assessment settings, saying its initial view was that those settings had deteriorated. The settings form part of S&Ps overall assessment process and apply to all councils with an S&P rating (smaller councils do not have them).

“S&P’s assessment of those institutional settings had now been affirmed and as expected for most councils with a S&P rating, downgrades have been applied, including Hastings. This downgrade is solely due to this change in their assessment of the local government institutional settings in New Zealand and nothing to do with Council’s financial management and debt positions.”

While S&P doesn’t rate HB’s other councils, its analysis of the challenges facing local government certainly applies widely, especially in terms of how ‘Local Water Done Well’ is ultimately resolved, both as national policy and as our councils’ individual decisions on how to proceed are finalised. Further, S&P does rate the creditworthiness (and therefore debt costs) of the Local Government Financing Agency, from which all our local councils in turn borrow.

Music to your ears

If you have anything more than a passing interest in HB’s music scene, you want to be on the email list of the HB Music Hub.

They’re behind much of what happens in our region’s music biz, whether you’re looking for a wedding band, want to produce your own music, or just want to know who’s performing, they’re a terrific resource.

Here’s their website. And here’s a link to their latest newsletter.

Are you dam concerned?

Wise Water Use HB is conducting a ‘town hall’ to discuss the proposed Ruataniwha Dam V.2. The session will be at the Taradale Town Hall, 8 Meeanee Road, on Thursday 27 March at 7:30pm. 

Speakers include the Wise Water Use HB team lead by Dr Trevor Le Lievre and Celia Wade-Brown (Green Party MP).

Catch up on the Dam 2 revival campaign, the economic ramifications, and water management alternatives. “This is an opportunity to learn about aspects of the dam the public won’t find in any of the dam promoters’ sugar-coated public statements or press releases,” says Le Lievre.

Get rid of your household chemical nasties

Napier and Hastings Councils are combining to provide a ‘chemical clean out day’ on Sunday March 30. For the unwanted nasties accumulating in the back of your cupboards and garages like bleach, pool chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, cleaners and disinfectants.

However, you need to pre-register to take advantage of this service.

Here are the details for Hastings.

Here are the details for Napier.

New tradies for HB

Seventeen Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) trained apprentices from across Hawke’s Bay recently celebrated their graduation as qualified tradespeople.

The apprentices qualified in a number of trades – painting & decorating, joinery, interior systems, carpentry, architectural aluminum joinery, and flooring.

BCITO Director Greg Durkin commented on the importance of growing the trades workforce:

“The building and construction sector is crucial to New Zealand’s economy and success and literally shapes our landscape. Tradespeople take pride in the very real difference they’re making to their communities, a legacy that can be seen for years to come.”

“However, building a thriving future for the country takes a strong pipeline of people entering the industry, who are keen to grow their skills through qualifications and by doing so, raise the capabilities of the entire construction sector. That’s why these efforts deserve to be celebrated.” 

BCITO has been helping Kiwis gain trade qualifications for over 34 years, with more than 55,000 professionals successfully trained.

MTG presents Rūaumoko: Restless Land

This is a touring exhibition created by Te Papa and the Natural Hazards Commission, using elements from Te Papa’s Te Taiao | Nature zone and combines cutting-edge science with mātauranga Māori to explore the powerful, natural forces that continuously shape Aotearoa.

Combining scientific explanations with local hazard examples, visitors will be taken on a journey through the much-loved Quake Nation interactive, tectonic plate models, volcanic rock samples, shake table, and some new additions.

Rūaumoko: Restless Land 
15 March – 15 June 2025
MTG Hawke’s Bay

‘Unpacking The Too Hard Basket’

Organised by Geoff and Jan Speeden of Millstream Gardens, this is an exhibition of works at the Central Hawkes Bay Museum that has been brought together to remind us of the beauty of nature, and to show us what we face losing.

It was formed around the idea of connecting people who care for the environment, as well as providing a space for people and the public to learn about various things going on in the world right now. Over fifty local artists are featured, with works in a variety of mediums and formats, and there are numerous educational resources onsite as well. 

Rather than charge commission, artists can choose to donate as much as they want to various charities, and the public can vote on how those donations are distributed amongst these charities: Forest & Bird, Greenpeace, Sustainable Hawkes Bay. Wise Water Use HB, Re-Source, Doctors without Borders, and Fred Hollows.

The CHB Museum is open 7 days a week, 10am to 4pm, with free entry, and the exhibition runs until May 30th.