Hastings, Agricultural center in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
Hastings is a city in Hastings District on New Zealand's North Island that spreads across the fertile Heretaunga Plains. Streets run in a regular grid through residential neighborhoods and commercial zones surrounded by orchards and farmland.
European settlers founded the city in 1873 as a transport hub after leasing land from local Māori. A major earthquake destroyed much of the downtown area in 1931, leading to reconstruction in the Art Deco style.
The annual Blossom Parade displays the strong ties between residents and the fruit-growing industry that shapes local life. Visitors see floats decorated with fresh produce and flowers from surrounding orchards and gardens during the event.
State Highway 2 connects the city to Napier and other towns in the surrounding area. Local bus routes run regularly through the neighborhoods and to nearby settlements.
The city became the first municipality in New Zealand to add fluoride to drinking water in 1954. This measure later influenced national dental health policy across the country.
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