In 1860 the present day site of Hastings was virtually all swampland, generally known as the "Heretaunga Plains". Nearby are a range of hills the highest point of which, (1350 feet) is called Te Mata Peak. These hills viewed from a distance look very like a Huge Giant lying on his back.

There is another interesting Maori legend about Te Mata peak that bears a striking resemblence to the Ancient Greek story of Jason and the Golden Fleece.

The old Maori talked of the great Giant, "Te Mata", who was a trouble-maker in the Heretaunga Plains. The old chiefs decided to rid the district of the giant so the services of a beautiful maiden were enlisted. The giant eventually fell in love with the girl, but before she would marry him, she sent him on several seemingly impossible tasks which the giant completed without problem. She then set him the task of eating his way through the hills behind what is now the township of Havelock North. Te Mata took one bite and dropped dead, and to this day, people can still see Te Mata where he fell.

I you look to the right of the above picture, you will see a large bite taken out which is the supposed to be the piece that Te Mata ate. To the left is his head and as you go further left you will see his chest, down to his kness and with a little imagination, the worn hill at the extreme left is his feet. The highest point of these hills is "Te Mata Peak" itself is about 40% from the left, and I leave it to your imagination as to its position.

The true history of the area is regrettably rather less colourful. Long before Hastings was ever thought of, there was endless trouble over the ownership of Maori land and regretably, there were many land abuses by the European newcomers. About 1864 the Heretaunga block (a portion of which now constitutes Hastings) was first leased from the Maori and some years later was purchased outright. In 1873 a railway to Napier was proposed, and a local store owner (one Mr. F. Hicks) made a present of a block of land to the Railways Corporation as a site for the Railway Station to ensure that the Railway pwent through the town. The rest of his land holding was divided into 144 sections.

This of course ensured that the line passed through his land, increasing the population and of course his customer base. The building of the Railway started to attract industry and from it was from this point the area developed and for a while the small town was called "Hicksville". It finally became a town in its own right with its own Town board in 1886.