Hawke’s Bay Pistol Club secretary Ash Hampton, left, and president Lance Bower say they will be gutted if they have to disband the club.

Pistol club fears closure if it's locked out of venue of 50 years

Hundreds of police officers and hobbyists have trained at the Hawke’s Bay Pistol Club.

Tue, Sep 2

The location of a potential new brothel on Hastings' Heretaunga St West.

Hastings brothel plan pulled amid mayoral candidate's condemnation

Hardeep Singh said his phone immediately began ringing with people against the brothel after a mayoral candidate posted a photo of his application.

Thu, Aug 21

Napier City Council has admitted it didn't follow Code of Practice when work began excavating a drain alongside Cato Rd in Napier, which resulted in eels being dumped at an earth landfill.

Eel mistake could have sent dozens to their death in Napier

A witness said he estimated the number of deaths could be anywhere up to 100.

Fri, Aug 15

Smoke from fires burning in the Longlands area, in Hastings, exceeded the National Environmental Standard for air quality.

Hawke's Bay fires: $300 fine an 'economic incentive to burn'

Fire in the Longlands area judged to have been a breach of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council airshed rules and led to a fine of a couple of a hundred dollars.

Wed, Aug 13

1:35

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council spent $4000 repairing damage to a stopbank in Waipukurau, caused by a 4WD vehicle.

Hawke’s Bay stopbank torn up by 4WDs costs ratepayers $4000

Damage to a stopbank caused by 4WD vehicles has cost Hawke’s Bay ratepayers $4000.

Sat, Jul 26

Only one person has registered their nomination for a seat on the Wairoa District Council.

The district with just one local election candidate

In this district, and with nominations due to close in 11 days, only one person has registered their nomination for a seat.

Tue, Jul 22

1:30

The Hastings District Council's Mobile Licence Plate Recognition (MLPR) system issued more than 5000 tickets in five months.

Hastings 'fine sweeper' snaps over 5000 parking violations in five months

From January 1 to June 1, 2025, the car pinged 5326 vehicles for parking infringements in Hastings and Havelock North.

Wed, Jul 9

A software problem at Central Hawke's Bay District Council is being investigated.

Glitch sends one person's rates bill to up to 1000 Central Hawke's Bay residents

The council’s chief executive, Doug Tate, said they were made aware of an issue with the rating system this morning.

Fri, Jul 4

Work is advancing quickly on a new Ecoreef being built in front of Te Awanga lagoon to help protect this section of coastline from erosion.

New solution could save some Hawke's Bay coastline from erosion

The Ecoreef was made of a system of hexagonal reinforced, interlocking concrete modules linked together to form a protective structure, necessary in a demanding sea environment.

Wed, Jul 2

June 2025
After more than two years of uncertainty and constant upheaval, Lucky Hawkins finally has a permanent home in Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa’s Te Rauā residential development.

Wairoa woman who moved 14 times after toxic flooding finds a home

Lucky Hawkins was forced out after floodwater mixed with chemicals from the business next door swept through her property.

Mon, Jun 30

Carol Stewart was left with horrific injuries after a dog pulled her off her scooter in Murraee Street, Wairoa.

Dog's bite pulls Wairoa great-grandmother off mobility scooter

“All I could think of as I screamed for help, was please don’t go for my face. It was horrific."

Sat, Jun 28

Hastings hoarder’s home drew 19 complaints before fire

Hastings hoarder’s home drew 19 complaints before fire

Neighbours and locals who have watched the pile in the yard grow over the past few years say they have been stunned at the lack of council action at what they claim was an obvious fire risk.

Tue, Jun 24

1:30

Napier City Council mayor Kirsten Wise (top right) councillor and mayoral candidate Richard McGrath (middle) and councillor and mayoral candidate Nigel Simpson.

Napier council’s $30,000 Christmas breakfast backed by mayor

A staff Christmas breakfast for 612 employees had a price tag of $29,508.

Sat, Jun 14

Smoke or fog? Former council chair fumes over pollution doubters

Smoke or fog? Former council chair fumes over pollution doubters

The regional council found no evidence of breaches and suggested Rex Graham's photo of smoke might show mist.

Thu, Jun 12

Hastings District Council councillor Wendy Schollum says proposed changes to the Litter Act would allow litter control officers to issue fines using vehicle registration and ownership details inside bags to identify dumpers.

Fly tipping: Name on a letter in pile of roadside rubbish? Be ready for a fine

Proposed changes to the Litter Act would allow councils to ping fly-tippers long after they have fouled roadsides and private land and caused environmental harm.

Thu, Jun 5

1:30

A group of Havelock North residents say building a crematorium in the middle of the village is distasteful and they plan to fight it.

Crematorium by supermarket: Havelock North residents consider legal fight

Hastings District Council says the application to include a crematorium at the existing Terry Longley and Sons funeral home in Cooper Street was carefully assessed.

Tue, Jun 3

May 2025
Wooden barriers along Napier’s Marine Parade are preventing fishermen from accessing the beach. For some, carrying heavy gear down to the beach is not possible.

'A s***load of rates': Napier fisherman's fury at beach barriers

Steve Dean says he plans to skirt around the barriers, despite what he perceives as a threat of a $400 fine.

Thu, May 22

Napier City Council's Tom Parker Fountain.

Napier council staff bristle at restructure of more than 100 jobs

A proposed restructure from Napier City Council could mean the loss of more than 100 jobs, including gardeners and street cleaners.

Thu, May 22

Napier City Council chief executive Louise Miller

Napier City Council restructure impacts more than 100 jobs

While restructures were not uncommon in local government, a source told Local Democracy Reporting the scale of this one was significant, and many staff, some with decades of service, had been told their positions may no longer exist.

Tue, May 20

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst (left), Stead Construction project design manager Mark Baylis and Mike Walker Management Ltd director Mike Walker outside the Queen St building set for redevelopment.

Plans for $2.5m inner-city development in Hastings

Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says the project brings the community’s vision for a more vibrant, connected city centre one step closer.

Thu, May 15

Seymour backs watercress seller facing $600 council fee

Seymour backs watercress seller facing $600 council fee

David Seymour is backing a Hawke’s Bay watercress street seller told to stop until he paid more than $600 in registration fees after a Hastings District Council officer “observed the activity”.

Mon, May 12

Watch: Jet skier hoons past kayakers in Napier Inner Harbour

Watch: Jet skier hoons past kayakers in Napier Inner Harbour

"This kind of behaviour isn’t just against the rules — it’s unacceptable," the Hawke's Bay Regional Council said.

Wed, May 7

What's left of a pohutukawa tree after vandals mowed 38 of them down on Napier's Marine Parade.

Vandals in 4WDs mow down, destroy 38 pōhutukawa trees in Napier

The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees, Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise said.

Tue, May 6

Napier City Council amended its proposed Local Alcohol Policy to maintain the status quo.

Let them dance: Napier to retain 3am bar closing times

Napier City Council has done a U-turn on a proposal to close bars an hour earlier.

Thu, May 1

A Hastings man who has been selling bunches of watercress for more than 30 years has been told to stop by Hastings District Council until he pays registration fees.

He's sold watercress on the street for 30 years – then a council officer saw him

A Hastings man who has run a makeshift business picking and selling watercress on suburban streets has been told to stop until he pays more than $600 of registration fees.

Thu, May 1