Hastings, city in New Zealand, just inland of the eastern coast of North Island. Hastings lies close to Hawke Bay, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, in the heart of a prosperous and productive region of market gardens, grape-growing, and other farming. Hawke Bay wines, for which Hastings is a major trading center, are internationally known for their quality. In 1850 a French Catholic mission introduced vines for wine making to the area, and today the region has 17 major wineries. The city is also a center for food processing and packing. Hastings was established in 1864, designated a town in 1884, and named a city in 1956. A severe earthquake hit the area in 1931. Consequently, most of the buildings in Hastings date from the 1930s or later. Population (1998 estimate) 59,900.
