Havelock North

Havelock North is a suburb of Hastings, New Zealand, in the North Island's Hawke's Bay region. It was a borough for many years until the 1989 reorganisation of local government saw it merged into the new Hastings District, and it is now administered by the Hastings District Council.

Location, features and population

Havelock North was founded as a planned Government settlement following the purchase in 1858, from Maori owners, of land previously known as 'Karanema's Reserve'. The original village was laid out in 1860 and named after the hero of the 1857 Indian seypoy mutiny Sir Henry Havelock who famously relieved the siege of Lucknow in November of that year. The suburb, known locally as "the village", stands on the Heretaunga Plains, and has a reputation for its orchards, vineyards, and educational facilities. One of New Zealand's most important wine regions spreads around the area. The town's industry is based around its fruit and wine production, and includes a horticultural research centre. The Village is located less than 2 km to the South East of the Districts larger urban centre Hastings founded in 1875. The gap between the two centres often comes under pressure to construct new housing, however the highly valuable and fertile soils that lie between the two centres continue to prevent urban sprawl linking them together. Havelock North itself is primarily residential and Rural-Residential housing, with only a relatively small and compact industrial and commercial centre. As a result, a large majority of its 13,000 residents commute each morning to the nearby Hastings or Napier cities for work.