# Hastings District Council

Hastings District Council (Māori: Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga) is the territorial authority for the Hastings District of New Zealand.
The council covers the urban areas of Havelock North, Hastings and Flaxmere, and the surrounding settlements of Clive, Te Awanga, Haumoana and Waimarama. It was formed in 1989, through the merger of Hastings City Council, Havelock North Borough Council and the Hawke's Bay County Council.
The council is led by the mayor of Hastings, who is currently Sandra Hazlehurst.

## History
### 2022–2025 term

The 2022–2025 term was dominated by the recovery of the district following the destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. The council also dealt with issues related to infrastructure, crime, its youth council and finances.

## Composition

Hastings District Council is made up of one mayor and 15 councillors representing five general wards and one Māori ward.
Currently the council has 15 councillors, and 1 mayor. All councillors are currently unaffiliated with any political party or group.

### Mayor

The current mayor is Sandra Hazlehurst.
| Mayor | Mayor | Affiliation |
| | Sandra Hazlehurst | None |

### List of current councillors

| Ward | Councillor | Affiliation |
| Mohaka | Tania Kerr | None |
| Flaxmere | Henry Heke | None |
| Hastings-Havelock North | Malcolm Dixon | None |
| Hastings-Havelock North | Michael Fowler | None |
| Hastings-Havelock North | Damon Harvey | None |
| Hastings-Havelock North | Eileen Lawson | None |
| Hastings-Havelock North | Simon Nixon | None |
| Hastings-Havelock North | Wendy Schollum | None |
| Hastings-Havelock North | Kevin Watkins | None |
| Heretaunga | Alwyn Corban | None |
| Heretaunga | Hana Montaperto-Hendry | None |
| Kahuranaki | Marcus Buddo | None |
| Takitimu | Ana Apatu | None |
| Takitimu | Kellie Jessup | None |
| Takitimu | Heather Te Au-Skipworth | None |

### Rural Community Board

The council also has a Rural Community Board, made up of four members elected from four rural community areas:
* Kaweka subdivision: Isabele Crawshaw
* Maraekakaho subdivision: Jonathan Stockley
* Poukawa subdivision: Vicki Scoular
* Tutira subdivision: Abby Morley
* District councillors representing Mohaka, Kahuranaki, and Takitimu wards are also members.

## Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Hastings District Council :
* NotesThe council has a coat of arms, granted in 1993, which incorporates features from the coats of arms of the former Hastings City, Havelock North Borough and Hawke's Bay County councils. The blazon is:
* CrestOn a wreath of the colours, clouds Argent, rays Or, a sunburst supporting a toothed wheel, perforated of six, centred and rimmed Argent, Gules.
* EscutcheonPer pale Vert and Argent, in dexter a cross-crosslet fitchy Or (for Havelock North Borough Council); in sinister, on a cross carved with a Māori pattern Gules, a sun in splendour Or (for Hawke's Bay County Council); on a chief party per pale Argent and Vert, a lion passant guardant, armed and langued Gules within an orle of fern leaves all counterchanged (for Hastings City Council). An inescutcheon Or charged with a manche Gules (for Warren Hastings).
* SupportersDexter, a ram, tail couped, horned and hoofed Or, proper, supporting on a staff proper palewise flying to the dexter an ensign Sable, two bars Argent edged and charged with a hawk rising Or (for Hawke's Bay and Lord Hawke). Sinister, a bull, armed and hoofed Or, supporting a staff property palewise flying to the sinister, edged Or, a New Zealand Ensign; all supported by a profusion of apples, pears, peaches, grapes and miro berries with their leaves, surmounting a Māori style carved panel representing Rongomatane and Haumiatiketike, all proper.
* MottoUrbis Et Ruris Concordia (Town and Country in Harmony).