Havelock North is known locally as "The Village". It has retained its "Village" character and strong sense of community while
growing and becoming part of the wider district
of Hastings and province of Hawkes Bay.
A 10-minute winding drive takes you to the Te
Mata Peak lookout. The 360-degree views over
limestone cliffs and across the Heretaunga
Plains are spectacular. On a clear day,
especially in winter, Mt. Ruapehu can be seen
over the Ruahine Ranges. Hang gliders leap from
here at 399 metres above sea level. The peak is
known locally as the "sleeping giant" and in
Maori as Te Mata o Rongokako (the face of
Rongokako). According to legend, Rongokako was
challenged to eat his way through the peak to
win the hand of the beautiful Muriwhenua. He
choked on a rock and fell to the ground. You can
see the giant lying on his back and the bite
that choked him when you look at the Te Mata
Peak skyline.
New residential subdivisions and retirement
villages are evidence of the strong attraction
of settling in Havelock North. At the last New
Zealand census in 1996 the population was nearly
10,000. The Village has the highest proportion
of residents born overseas in Hawkes Bay.
English, Dutch and Australian-born people are
the largest immigrant populations.
Havelock North has been a desirable
environment, attracting talented and colourful
independent philosophers, artists and writers
(like Alan Duff), for generations. It has a
remarkable architectural heritage including many
stately homesteads, with contributions by
outstanding New Zealand architects like William
Gummer, William Rush, James Chapman Taylor and
Ian Athfield. The Village grew up around St
Luke's Anglican Church, built in 1874 from
native timbers rimu and kauri and designed by
Napier architect Thomas Cooper in the style of
English wooden churches familiar to the local
settlers. A 20th Century landmark is Our Lady of
Lourdes Catholic Church by New Zealand architect
John Scott, which opened in 1960.
Some heritage buildings are now boutique
accommodation, like Rush Cottage. Some, like
Duart House and Keirunga Gardens, are community
facilities. Immigrant Allan McLean built Duart
House in the style of Duart Castle in his native
Scottish home on the Isle of Mull. Duart House
is now a venue for weddings, concerts and
conferences. Keirunga House and Gardens is a hub
for local arts and crafts including spinners,
weavers, painters, potters and quilters.
Keirunga houses a gallery workshop and theatre
space for the local arts community. A model
railway group operates rides for children once a
month in the gardens.
In 1996 another new "olde" building emerged
in the heart of the village. That of the Rose
and Shamrock, a traditional Irish pub and
restaurant that has the ability to transport a
soul to Dublin for the mere cost of a pint of
Guinness ad a delicious cottage pie.
Across the road at Diva the end of the day is
reason for contemplation and celebration ...
Diva is a place to talk, take on some good food
and meet people. It is the place to go ... the
place to find out who's seeing who and who's
doing what and what's happening where. Nearby
the Happy Tav conjures up a more Kiwified
approach to a night out.
When the gentility and serenity of Peak House
(which was built in 1967 and boasts the most
spectacular view to consume lunch, an afternoon
tea or dinner by) is blended into the vibrant
village spots, you effectively create a
microcosm of Havelock North itself and
understand why more and more people are moving
there. As one resident said: "The place is
growing all the time but in a way it's not. I
don't think it can get any bigger ... but it
probably will".
Havelock North also has a reputation for its
boarding schools. Woodford House and Iona
College girls' and Hereworth boys' boarding
schools have impressive park-like settings and
grand old buildings in the tradition of the
public schools of England. Havelock North High
School has the reputation of being one of the
best co-ed schools in the country with a high
level of academic, cultural and sporting
achievement.
Havelock North interests and activities
extend to the wider Hawkes Bay and the "global
village" beyond, The 50 year-old HortResearch
Centre at Havelock North continues to play a
significant role in the development of the New
Zealand fruit industry. Local researchers
pioneered controlled atmosphere storage,
enabling NZ fruit to reach far-off markets in
peak condition. Exciting fruit varieties such as
Pacific Rose apples are the result of years of
work by scientists at the HortResearch Centre at
St. Georges Road/Crosses Road in Havelock North.
A fascinating aspect of The Village is its
link with independent philosophies. Hawkes Bay
is one of the most important centres of the
Rudolph Steiner Movement outside of Germany
where the movement originated. The Taruna
College for teacher training and the Weleda
Company, which prepares and promote herbal
remedies, are both based on Steiner principles
and located in Havelock North.
The Hawkes Bay Wine Country Food Trail takes
in Havelock North gourmet treats, like the
largest honey-producing enterprise in the
Southern Hemisphere, Arataki Honey. Here you can
taste pure New Zealand honey and view bees at
work through a specially constructed glass wall.
Local wineries are within cycling distance
including the historic Te Mata Winery.
Established in 1896 this is New Zealand's oldest
operating winery site and the original stables
building is still preserved and in use. Havelock
North hosts a number of house and garden tours,
music art and food festivals and events and has
its own outdoor amphitheatre. An open-air
Village Growers Market operates every Saturday
from Labour Weekend until Easter.
The lasting impression of Havelock North is
of an environment that is cared for and enjoyed
by young and old. It has an active new community
centre and library complex. The Village Pool
caters for all ages and has a beach volleyball
court and BBQ area. The Village is also home to
the East Coast Headquarters for Presbyterian
Support Services.
The Karamu Stream, Karituwhenua and Tainui
walkways are some of many well-tended local
reserves, which are a haven for bird-life.
Within easy driving distance are the Tukituki
River, for superb trout fishing, river rafting
and swimming spots; and the golden sand and surf
beaches of Waimarama and Ocean Beach.
In the leafy park-like setting of the Village
is a bronze statue by New Zealand artist Terry
Stringer. The plaque reads: "The Blacksmith: A
tribute to the early settlers whose fortitude
and labour laid the foundations of this village.
Erected by the citizens of Havelock North 1991".
The Villagers extend a warm welcome to share
their heritage and soak up the atmosphere of
Havelock North.
Activities in and around Havelock North
include:
- Food trail and
growers' market
- Winery tours
- Art and crafts
trails
- Garden visits
- Historic buildings
- Golf courses, 10
minutes drive
- Village crafts,
restaurants and shops within walking distance
- Bush walks
- Golden beaches 20
minutes away
- Horse riding
- Paragliding
- Model railway
- Gannet safari tours
- Hastings, 10 minutes
drive
- Art Deco Napier, 20
minutes
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