Motorhome Association Names Hastings Motorhome-Friendly Town

Hastings has been recognised as New Zealand’s first “Motorhome Friendly Town” at the Motorhome Association National Annual Rally, held at the A&P Showgrounds over Easter.

Almost 900 motorhomes rolled up for the four-day event and at an awards ceremony on Easter Monday Hastings became the first city in New Zealand to be bestowed with the title.

The certificate has been framed and will be presented to Council this week by local NZMCA members Rita and Ron Carswell, who were heavily involved in the organisation of the successful rally.

Hastings deputy mayor, Cynthia Bowers says Hastings District Council has worked hard in recent years to provide services for the ever increasing number of motorhome owners visiting the district.

“We have created designated reserves so certified self-contained motorhomes can overnight in some of the most scenic spots in the country, including Pakowhai Country Park, Richmond Road Clive, Clifton Road Reserve Te Awanga, Maraetotara Falls Reserve, Puketapu Park, Airini Rd Reserve Waimarama, Haumoana Domain, Clive Ski Reserve and Dartmoor Bridge Reserve.

“Hastings also sports one of, if not the only, CBD motorhome overnight park in New Zealand – right in the Civic Centre in the Farmers carpark and handy to the i-Site.”

Council has also installed a number of effluent dumping stations at BP in Clive, Napier Road Havelock North, BP Stortford Lodge, Angus Inn Hotel and Hastings Top 10 Holiday Park.

“This is great promotion for the District. The association has 21,000 memberships representing almost 40,000 individuals right throughout New Zealand and they are mostly people in the mature age group who are either retired or semi-retired.

“They have more time on their hands so they can spend longer here when they visit, spending their visitor dollar on food, diesel and sightseeing when they’re here,” Cr Bowers says.

NZMCA members annually spend around $90 million internal tourist dollars while on their travels around NZ.