1867: Māori owners leased 70 sq kilometres of land from the Heretaunga Plains to Thomas Tanner; it was the site of Karamu Junction. 1873: The town of Karamu Junction was officially renamed Hastings. 1874: Hastings (along with Napier) was connected to the North Island Main Trunk line. 1886: 20 October. Hastings town was incorporated as a borough. 1912: Hastings was connected to electricity, followed by Napier in 1915. 1914: Heretaunga Street is laid with stone for motor vehicle traffic. 1918: Nearly 300 people died of a flu epidemic that swept Hawke's Bay. 1931: 3 February. Hastings was rocked by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, killing 256 people (93 in Hastings). 1932: 16 September. Hastings was rocked by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake. It was the final large earthquake in the 1931–1932 earthquake events. 1935: Hastings Clock Tower erected to celebrate the rebuild of Hastings post 1931 earthquake 1950: The first Blossom Parade was held in Hastings; it is now a popular annual event. 1951: 10 February. Hastings was rocked by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake at 3:27 pm. 1954: Hastings was the first city in New Zealand to introduce fluoridation of its water supply. 1960: 10 September. The Hastings Blossom Parade (at the time a significant national event) was cancelled at 11 am for the first time in its history due to rain. 1989: Hastings City and the Havelock North Borough amalgamated to form the modern-day Hastings District. 1993: 11 April. A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck 15 km south-west of Hastings and was felt as far south as Christchurch. 2008: 25 August. A 5.9 magnitude earthquake centred 10 km south of Hastings caused an estimated $5 million in damage. 2010: The city became a walking and cycling "model community". 2016: August and September. 5,200 residents fell ill with campylobacteriosis, prompting a district-wide health crisis. It was the largest outbreak of waterborne disease to ever occur in New Zealand. 2023: 12–18 February. Cyclone Gabrielle severely impacts Hastings, claiming the lives of 7 people in Hastings District. Multiple rivers burst their banks, destroying 6 bridges and causing an estimated $13 billion NZD in damage.
1867: Māori owners leased 70 sq kilometres of land from the Heretaunga Plains to Thomas Tanner; it was the site of Karamu Junction. 1873: The town of Karamu Junction was officially renamed Hastings. 1874: Hastings (along with Napier) was connected to the North Island Main Trunk line. 1886: 20 October. Hastings town was incorporated as a borough. 1912: Hastings was connected to electricity, followed by Napier in 1915. 1914: Heretaunga Street is laid with stone for motor vehicle traffic. 1918: Nearly 300 people died of a flu epidemic that swept Hawke's Bay. 1931: 3 February. Hastings was rocked by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, killing 256 people (93 in Hastings). 1932: 16 September. Hastings was rocked by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake. It was the final large earthquake in the 1931–1932 earthquake events. 1935: Hastings Clock Tower erected to celebrate the rebuild of Hastings post 1931 earthquake 1950: The first Blossom Parade was held in Hastings; it is now a popular annual event. 1951: 10 February. Hastings was rocked by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake at 3:27 pm. 1954: Hastings was the first city in New Zealand to introduce fluoridation of its water supply. 1960: 10 September. The Hastings Blossom Parade (at the time a significant national event) was cancelled at 11 am for the first time in its history due to rain. 1989: Hastings City and the Havelock North Borough amalgamated to form the modern-day Hastings District. 1993: 11 April. A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck 15 km south-west of Hastings and was felt as far south as Christchurch. 2008: 25 August. A 5.9 magnitude earthquake centred 10 km south of Hastings caused an estimated $5 million in damage. 2010: The city became a walking and cycling "model community". 2016 August and September. :5,200 residents fell ill with campylobacteriosis, prompting a district-wide health crisis. It was the largest outbreak of waterborne disease to ever occur in New Zealand. 2023: 12–18 February. Cyclone Gabrielle severely impacts Hastings, claiming the lives of 7 people in Hastings District. Multiple rivers burst their banks, destroying 6 bridges and causing an estimated $13 billion NZD in damage.