Hastings Central
Central Business District of Hastings, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hastings Central is the central suburb and business district of Hastings City, in the Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island.
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Hastings Central | |
|---|---|
Municipal Buildings | |
 Interactive map of Hastings Central | |
| Coordinates: 39.642031°S 176.843341°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Hastings |
| Local authority | Hastings District Council |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Area | |
| • Land | 142 ha (350 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 440 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) |
| St Leonards | Mahora | |
| Raureka |
  Hastings Central  |
Mayfair |
| Akina | Parkvale |
Demographics
Hastings Central covers 1.42 km2 (0.55 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 440 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 310 people per km2.
Hastings Central had a population of 429 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−3.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 63 people (17.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 225 males and 201 females in 183 dwellings.[5] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 66 people (15.4%) aged under 15 years, 111 (25.9%) aged 15 to 29, 204 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 51 (11.9%) aged 65 or older.[3]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 50.3% European (Pākehā); 23.1% Māori; 9.1% Pasifika; 25.9% Asian; 3.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.7%, Māori by 6.3%, Samoan by 2.1%, and other languages by 22.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 37.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[3]
Religious affiliations were 42.0% Christian, 3.5% Hindu, 1.4% Islam, 2.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 5.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 39.2%, and 5.6% of people did not answer the census question.[3]
Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (17.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 189 (52.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 111 (30.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (1.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 210 (57.9%) full-time, 42 (11.6%) part-time, and 18 (5.0%) unemployed.[3]
Economy and amenities
Education
Hastings Central has two public schools:
- Hastings Central School is a state primary school serving Years 1 to 6,[11][12] with a roll of 187.[13] It opened in 1875.[14]
- The associated Kōwhai School is a special school,[15] with a roll of 135.[16] It opened in 1975.[17]
There are also three private schools in the area:
- St Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic primary school serving Years 1 to 8,[18][19] with a roll of 266.[20] It opened in 1889.[21]
- St Matthew's Primary School is a state-integrated Anglican primary school serving Years 1 to 8,[22][23] with a roll of 150.[24] It opened in 1995.[25]
- Taikura Rudolf Steiner School is a state-integrated Year 2-13 school,[26][27] with a roll of 275.[28] It opened in 1950, but was preceded by a preparatory girls' school, Queenswood, which opened about 1921.[29]
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of March 2026.[30]