Hastings, New Zealand

Inland HASTINGS, 20km south of Napier, was once a rival to its northern neighbour as Hawke's Bay's premier city, buoyed by the wealth generated by the surrounding farmland and orchards. In recent years, shifting economic patterns and Napier's ascendancy as a tourist destination have put Hastings firmly in second place. Nonetheless, it has an attractive core of buildings, erected after the same 1931 earthquake that rocked Napier. It was saved from the worst effects of the ensuing fires, which were quenched using the artesian water beneath the city before they could take hold. As in Napier, Art Deco predominates and, though Hastings lacks the flamboyance and exuberance of its neighbour, there are some harmonious townscapes along Russell, Eastbourne and Heretaunga streets. Hastings also enthusiastically embraced the Spanish Mission style, and two exemplary buildings warrant a brief visit.