From saving baby birds, to rebuilding vital Hastings-Napier bridges, to civil defence emergency ‘ShakeOut’ drill, to HB Arts Festival launching, to Welcome Guide for Hastings-Napier newbies, to $500,000 in community grants offered, to HB Airport profit, to new Hastings alcohol rules, here are some notable news items you might have missed.
Help save baby birds
BirdCare Aotearoa’s nursery is filling with tiny new arrivals. Ngā manu pēpi (baby birds), who can’t survive alone – parents lost to predation, storms, window collisions, cars, starvation and shrinking habitats.
In BirdCare Aotearoa’s nursery, manu pēpi are hand-fed, kept warm and hydrated, and guided through numerous developmental milestones. Beyond feeds and health checks, we provide species-specific environments for socialising and adapting to native habitats.
Baby bird season is our busiest and most costly time of year. Specialised diets, heating, medical supplies and hands-on time are very costly for our charity. We rely on the generosity of our community to keep the nursery running. Every donation helps to grow these pēpi.
To help save our Birds of Aotearoa please give a little at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/baby-bird-season-appeal
Key Hastings/Napier bridges to be rebuilt
Since Cyclone Gabrielle, the future of two important semi-urban bridges straddling the boundaries of Hastings and Napier has been under consideration.
Now Hastings District Council and Napier City Council have committed funding towards replacing Brookfields and Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridges, which will need to brought forward in their Long Term Plans.
Subject to meeting relevant funding requirements, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) funding support is anticipated to support physical works at the higher Cyclone Recovery Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) of 83%.
For Brookfields Bridge, a final decision on the scope of the rebuild is expected in the first half of 2026, followed by detailed design work. Construction is estimated to take about two years, starting mid-2027, aiming to be finished by the end of June, 2029. The cost is estimated to be between $35 million and $55 million dependent on the option progressed to construction.
For Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge, funding has been secured at the FAR rate from NZTA to advance site investigations, resource consents and detailed design, with a decision on preferred alignment expected by the end of 2025. With construction planned to start early 2027, the total estimated cost is expected to be between $60 and $80 million, with completion by the end of June 2029.
More information on each bridge can be found here:
Redclyffe/Waiohiki: https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/cyclone-gabrielle/roading-recovery/permanent-bridge-rebuilds/redclyffewaiohiki/
Brookfields: https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/cyclone-gabrielle/roading-recovery/permanent-bridge-rebuilds/brookfields/
Emergency ‘ShakeOut’ drill
Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management is encouraging individuals, families, schools and businesses across the region to sign up for ShakeOut 2025 – New Zealand’s national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (evacuation).
ShakeOut takes place at 9:30am on Thursday 16 October 2025, and registrations are now open at getready.govt.nz.
Hawke’s Bay already has nearly 16,800 people registered – around 9% of the population – but Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management Director, Shane Briggs, wants to see that number grow.
“This is a great opportunity for whānau, workplaces and schools to Drop, Cover and Hold during the drill, then practise tsunami hīkoi evacuations if in the blue tsunami evacuation zone. It’s also a reminder to check emergency supplies, update household plans, and quake-safe homes, classrooms and workplaces,” says Briggs.
How to ShakeOut:
- Sign up at getready.govt.nz – it only takes two minutes.
- Mark your calendar – 9:30am, Thursday 16 October 2025.
- Check if you’re in the blue tsunami evacuation zone and plan a hīkoi if you live, play, or work in the Blue Zone.
- Learn more about Hawke’s Bay’s earthquake and tsunami risk.
- Download and share these resources reminding people to Drop, Cover and Hold and if the earthquake is Long or Strong: Get Gone.
Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival
The Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival launches in ONE WEEK!
From 9–19 October, Hawke’s Bay will be full to busting with world-class performances, local talent, and unmissable experiences – starting with performances from the incredible Deva Mahal at the Toitoi Opera House, and SCENA by Hawke’s Bay’s much loved Project Prima Volta at Blyth Performing Arts Centre.
See the full programme and book tickets here.
Hastings/Napier Newcomers Guide
Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Citizens Advice Bureau have prepared The Newcomers’ Guide – a new resource to help welcome and support newcomers to Ahuriri Napier and Heretaunga Hastings.
Available in both printed form and online on the Hastings and Napier council websites, the information is designed to help people navigate setting up a new life in the region – from banking to employment, health, transport and council services and facilities.
The guide can be viewed at https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/hastings/community-development/welcoming-communities/
Joan Fernie Trust to give $500,000
The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust (JFCT) announced the opening of its first major community funding round, with $500,000 available for distribution to eligible Hawke’s Bay organisations before March 2026.
The Trust has completed a comprehensive modernisation process, including establishing a formal Funding Policy to guide transparent, accountable charitable distributions across the region.
“The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust has completed its comprehensive modernisation process and is now well-placed to deliver meaningful, sustained community benefit across Hawke’s Bay,” says Trust Chair, Mike Barham.
The Trust has established clear priority funding areas including Community Development, Education & Skills Development, Sustainable Agriculture & Environment, and Health & Wellbeing. Organisations can apply for grants of up to $50,000 through the Trust’s new community funding portal at joanfernietrust.org.nz/community-funding.
Trustee and Community Funding lead, Ana Apatu says the Trust is seeking applications from registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, and educational institutions operating within the Hawke’s Bay region or delivering initiatives that directly benefit the region’s residents. Priority will be given to initiatives demonstrating clear community benefit, sustainability, and alignment with the Trust’s agricultural heritage.
Applications for the 2025-26 funding round must be submitted through the Trust’s website portal by the closing date of Sunday, 30 November 2025.
HB Airport financially sound
Hawke’s Bay Airport today published its FY2025 Annual Report, covering the 12 months to 30 June 2025. The airport is owned by three shareholders: Napier City Council (26%), Hastings District Council (24%) and the Crown (50%).
Although passenger numbers (612,000) were down 7% from previous year, revenue was up, with the Airport earning a $3.3 million profit.
Nick Flack, CEO Hawke’s Bay Airport commented: “Alongside pleasing financial performance, we made excellent progress in our capital works programme, with significant steps taken to future-proof our operations as well as enhance reliability and safety.
New Hastings alcohol rule now in force
Additional changes to Hastings’ revised Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) come into force on 30 September.
Adopted by Council in June this year, the changes came about following consultation with the community, informed by robust and evidence-based recommendations from NZ Police and health agencies.
From September 30, new trading hours will apply to:
- Taverns: Closing time reduced from 3am to 2am, with a mandatory one-way door from 1am.
- On-licences (restaurants, cafés and wineries): New closing time of 1am (reduced from 2am).
- Off-licences (supermarkets and grocery stores): New trading hours of 9am–9pm (previously 7am to 10pm)
- All other off-licenses, including bottle stores and wineries: New trading hours of 9am-9pm (previously 7am to 9pm)
- Smaller club licences: New closing time of 12am midnight (was 1am).
To read the Local Alcohol Policy and find out more about licensing matters go to https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/services/alcohol-licensing/
