Havelock North

The suburb, known locally as "the village", is situated on the Heretaunga Plains, less than 2 km to the south-east of Hastings. It is surrounded by numerous orchards and vineyards, and its industry is based around its fruit and wine production, and a horticultural research centre. The fertile soils that lie between Havelock North and Hastings has prevented 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 cities (Hastings or Napier) for work.

Havelock North is generally hilly, and small gullies have been formed by the creeks and streams flowing from higher ground, resulting in a small amount of inaccessible or steep land which is converted into forests, parks or reserves, giving the image of naturally having many bushes and trees. This is due to the town being situated at the base of the prominent landmark Te Mata Peak, a 399-metre outcrop, which according to local Māori legend is the body of the giant Te Mata o Rongokako,[3] and the depression in the land visible behind his head according to the myth is where he tried to bite through the mountain range which filled his stomach turning him to stone.[4]

Both Hastings and Havelock North obtain water from secure confined aquifer systems. The Te Mata aquifer that feeds Havelock North is very similar to Hastings in quality, but has slightly elevated calcium levels. Hastings is situated directly over the Heretaunga Plains aquifer system.[5][6]

Suburban Havelock North

Vineyard on Te Mata Road in summer

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, taking its name took its name from Sir Henry Havelock, who was involved in the suppression of the Indian Uprising, thus keeping with the local habit of naming towns after prominent men from Imperial India. Its founders originally envisaged a larger town for the site, but when the Wellington–Napier rail line went through the area in 1874 it took a direct route some distance from Havelock North, and Hastings became a more logical choice for residents.

In the early 1800s, the local Karamu Stream was part of the much larger Ngaruroro River system. It was termed the "River Plassey", the same name also being applied to a street in the village after the battle of Plassey of 1757 near Calcutta. Early survey plans of Havelock North show ferry landings where boats would sail up and down the river to collect and deliver supplies. This practice was phased out in the 1880s, when a number of large floods diverted the Ngaruroro River to its current course further north away from Havelock North. Later, during the 1931 earthquake, a bridge over the Karamu was completely destroyed.

Like a number of North Island towns, Havelock North has grown larger than its South Island namesake, Havelock, in the Marlborough Sounds.

Havelock North was the centre for Havelock Work, a quasi-religious movement based at a temple of the Stella Matutina magical order. This temple survives today as Whare Ra, which followed the early twentieth century teachings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

From 12 to 29 August 2016 the town experienced New Zealand's largest recorded outbreak of waterborne disease. Campylobacter entered the town's water supply after run off from a nearby sheep farm entered the Brookvale boreholes following heavy rain. Of the town's 13,000 residents, 5,500 fell ill, 45 were hospitalised and four died.[8]

Havelock North has eight schools: three state primary schools, a state intermediate school, a state secondary school, a private boys' primary school, and two state-integrated girls' secondary schools.

• Havelock North High School is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school with approximately 1069 students.[9] The school opened in 1975.
• Havelock North Intermediate is a state intermediate (Year 7–8) school with approximately 545 students.[9]
• Havelock North Primary School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with approximately 571 students.[9]
• Hereworth School is a private boys' full primary (Year 1–8) school with approximately 196 students.[9]
• Iona College is a state-integrated Presbyterian girls' Year 7–13 secondary school with approximately 314 students.[9] The school opened in 1914.
• Lucknow School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with approximately 274 students.[9]
• Te Mata School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with approximately 558 students.[9]
• Woodford House is a state-integrated Anglican girls' Year 7–13 secondary school with approximately 336 students.[9]

Notable residents have included:

• Alan Duff (born 1950), novelist
• Herbert Sutcliffe (1878–1971), health advocate
• Alfred Meebold (1863–1952), botanist, writer, and anthroposopher (died at Havelock North)
• Dr Robert William Felkin (1853–1926), medical missionary, ceremonial magician, author on Uganda and Central Africa, explorer, and early anthropologist

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Havelock North.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Havelock North, New Zealand.

• Official Online Destination & Tourism Marketing Centre
• Visitor Information
• About Havelock North