Hawkes Bay future

[Pete Lane]

This evening, NZTR and HBRI presented to Club Members on proposals for the future of racing in the Hawke’s Bay region. No images? Click here NZTR and HBRI Unveil Plans for Hawke’s Bay Racing Precinct This evening, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc. (HBRI) presented to Club Members on proposals for the future of racing in the Hawke’s Bay region. The Forum marked the first formal opportunity for the Club’s full membership to consider these proposals, which set out a two-part strategy: restoring racing at Hastings Racecourse in the short term, while advancing plans for a new long-term Greenfields racing precinct venue in Flaxmere. The proposals form part of NZTR’s national infrastructure strategy, which recognises Hawke’s Bay as a key regional centre for racing. The revitalisation strategy outlined to Members has two key elements. The first is an interim project at Hastings Racecourse, where a partial recambering of the track’s bends will be undertaken to improve safety and performance. This work will allow racing to recommence at Hastings Racecourse in time for the 2026 Spring Carnival. This upgrade is essential in allowing racing to return to Hawke’s Bay while longer-term solutions are progressed. The works will be staged to minimise disruption to Central District-based trainers and horses.  In parallel, Members were presented with a long-term proposal to develop a new, purpose-built racing and training facility on a Greenfields site in Flaxmere. Envisioned as a modern metropolitan venue, the facility would host premier race meetings, support year-round training, and provide wider event and tourism benefits for the local community. The Greenfields proposal remains subject to funding confirmation, Resource Management Act approvals, including mana whenua consultation, as well as formal approval by Members. A vote will be required once funding is confirmed before any final commitment is made, with project timelines dependent on the outcome of those ongoing discussions. NZTR Chief Executive Officer, Matt Ballesty, said the Hawke’s Bay region remains a vital part of New Zealand’s racing network and is an important focus of the organisation’s long-term strategy. “Our vision is to build a sustainable, world-class racing infrastructure across the country, and Hawke’s Bay has a key role to play in that,” he said. “Hastings has been confirmed as a strategic venue, reflecting the NZTR Board’s directive to ensure Hawke’s Bay remains a centre of racing excellence in the years ahead. The projects presented tonight address both the immediate need to restore racing and the longer-term opportunity to deliver a modern facility for the future. “Realising that vision will require strong collaboration with the Club, ongoing engagement with Members, and, importantly, securing the necessary funding. With the right resourcing and careful planning, these projects can create facilities that serve both the industry and the wider community for decades to come,” Ballesty said.  HBRI Chairman, Richard Riddell, said the Forum was an important opportunity to involve Members in shaping the Club’s next chapter. “This evening was about opening up the conversation with our Members and ensuring they are part of the decision-making process,” Riddell said. “For the first time, the full membership has been presented with these proposals, and their feedback and support will be crucial as we move forward.  “The interim track upgrade provides a clear and practical path back to racing at Hastings next year, while the Flaxmere Greenfields proposal is about thinking bigger and setting up Hawke’s Bay racing for the next generation. Our Members’ role in that journey cannot be overstated,” he said.  Both the Club and NZTR emphasised that the redevelopment proposals would deliver benefits extending well beyond the racing industry itself. Should the proposed Greenfields venue in Flaxmere proceed, redevelopment of the current Hastings Racecourse site would only occur once the new Flaxmere facility is completed and formally handed over for racing use. At that point, the Hastings Racecourse land could be released and it is likely that redevelopment will take place, potentially paving the way for much-needed housing and other urban projects in the heart of Hastings. This aligns with wider community priorities, with local government and Council already progressing for new housing initiatives in the area. A purpose-built Greenfields racing and events facility in Flaxmere would also create jobs during both construction and operation, attract visitors and tourism spend, and complement Hawke’s Bay’s broader urban planning strategies. “This is not just about racing, it’s about contributing to Hawke’s Bay’s future,” Riddell said.  The Hastings track recambering project will move into its implementation phase this month, with progress updates to be provided as Spring 2026 approaches. In parallel, planning for the proposed Flaxmere Greenfields development will continue alongside efforts to secure funding. Decisions on potential government co-funding are pending, and Members will ultimately vote on any relocation proposal once details are finalised. Ballesty said the organisations recognise the dynamic nature of the process. “We appreciate this is an evolving project and that circumstances are constantly moving,” he said.  “NZTR and HBRI want to express our gratitude for the ongoing support and patience shown by the Hawke’s Bay racing community and neighbouring Clubs in the region who have stepped up to help fill the racing programme while Hastings Racecourse is out of action. “Our commitment is to keep Members, stakeholders and the wider community updated, and we will provide further detail as soon as it is possible to do so,” Ballesty said.

[We're Doomed]

I always thought Flaxmere was considered the slum area of the HB. I'm not a local so I may be wrong, but I think that is the impression the rest of the country has. Isn't it where most of the crime happens?

[sunlineboy]

Agreed. Always told never drive to Flaxmere!

[Pete Lane]

I guess they're hoping to buy cheap land.

[bloke]

21 minutes ago, We're Doomed said:

I always thought Flaxmere was considered the slum area of the HB. I'm not a local so I may be wrong, but I think that is the impression the rest of the country has. Isn't it where most of the crime happens?

Well, there is prison not far from Trentham. 

[We're Doomed]

4 minutes ago, Pete Lane said:

I guess they're hoping to buy cheap land.

Presumably they must already own the land if they know where they are going? They would have just pushed up the price of Flaxmere land with that announcement.

[bloke]

1 minute ago, We're Doomed said:

Presumably they must already own the land if they know where they are going? They would have just pushed up the price of Flaxmere land with that announcement.

The last financials I saw showed that they were already straddled with debt. They purchased land just south of the existing racecourse for approx. $7M funded by a Bank loan of the same amount and then found that they could not get consents to build a racecourse. So, last I heard they were trying to sell the land purchased but would take a bath on the sale.

To make the proposal work they will firstly need an unconditional contract to sell the existing racecourse and then ensure they have all the consents to build the new complex as well as completing it within budget. 

[We're Doomed]

22 minutes ago, bloke said:

The last financials I saw showed that they were already straddled with debt. They purchased land just south of the existing racecourse for approx. $7M funded by a Bank loan of the same amount and then found that they could not get consents to build a racecourse. So, last I heard they were trying to sell the land purchased but would take a bath on the sale.

To make the proposal work they will firstly need an unconditional contract to sell the existing racecourse and then ensure they have all the consents to build the new complex as well as completing it within budget. 

But they will have the full support and resources of NZTR. What could possibly go wrong?

[nomates]

Cannot believe that it has taken 1 year to make the decision to re camber the track , surely this could have been sorted much much earlier .

[scooby3051]

1 minute ago, nomates said:

Cannot believe that it has taken 1 year to make the decision to re camber the track , surely this could have been sorted much much earlier .

A year earlier, then no races would of needed to be relocated and the club would not be in dire straits...but hey whats new.

[nomates]

1 minute ago, scooby3051 said:

A year earlier, then no races would of needed to be relocated and the club would not be in dire straits...but hey whats new.

So does this mean that changes to the calendar , programming , ratings , whip use could be a decade or more away ????

[Theladdownsouth]

 Hawke’s Bay is about to witness a racing revolution so monumental that historians may one day question if it was ever actually about horses. Hastings Racecourse, long the venerable backbone of the region, will receive a recambering project—an intervention being described by insiders as “surgical track Botox,” designed to smooth out decades of historical curvature while ensuring that no horse, jockey, or sentient shrub is left behind. This isn’t just a track fix; it’s a philosophical statement: racing here is evolving, but tradition still matters… sort of. Meanwhile, local council planners are reportedly in talks about installing mood lighting along the grandstand to match the emotional arc of each race.

Meanwhile, Flaxmere is set to become the first purpose-built, metropolitan-scale equine lifestyle and entertainment precinct in New Zealand history. Imagine a place where holographic starting gates flicker in neon anticipation, automated carrot dispensers glide along magnetic rails, and stables are furnished with ergonomic hay racks, Wi-Fi, and mini-fridges stocked with artisanal apples. Jockeys may soon be upgraded to hoverboards to improve efficiency and style, while the TAB explores new betting options: who will order avocado toast first, which horse will panic at the drone paparazzi, and which stable mascot will secure a sponsorship deal before the next Spring Carnival.

But the vision doesn’t stop at luxury equines. The plan promises city-wide ramifications: Hastings could see its old racetrack land redeveloped into residential penthouses and boutique avocado farms, while Flaxmere becomes a tourist magnet with live streaming arenas, equine yoga studios, and VIP hospitality boxes offering champagne for humans and kombucha for horses. According to insiders, horses are already rumored to be negotiating contracts with talent agents, securing NFT stable passes, and lobbying for their own reality docuseries. It’s not merely racing—it’s Hawke’s Bay: the ultimate intersection of sport, spectacle, capitalism, and existential equine ambition.

 

[meomy]

Under whose leadership at Hawkes Bay did the purchase of land for $7 million @blokesand for what purposes?

 

was this during Covid Fast Track Legislation?

 

The people of New Zealand all own technically all the Racecourses as that's what the spirit and intents of them are for, they were / are never to be "sold" to build houses.

 

Things are hotting up all over the place in regards to claims for "housing Intensification" in NZ and hopefully sooner, rather than later, the dung will hit the fan and those responsible will be held to account.

 

No prudent Economist or person uses monies from the "Publics Purse" to fund any project to keep paying for work schemes...that are not even of any benefits to the people of NZ.

 

One dreads to think how long it will be before these parasites start trying to sell of Lake Wanaka, Lake Taupo and Lake Rotorua to build houses on stilts because there's so much debt burdened on future generations.  

[meomy]

@Theladdownsouth

It's not Council Planners as you state who are contributing to this, it goes back to Statistics and Census collections of Information and how they are being gathered and interpreted to and are used.

 

In the background are people who have and are misappropriating Public Assets and funds who need to be held to account.

 

There's understood to be some very annoyed rate and taxpayers in little ole NZ so watch this space.

 

Those people making these decisions, and encouraging others to sell up Public owned lands and signing of our Racing Sector assets are all accountable and must be held to account.

 

Do remember Grant Robertson's father was a crooked Accountant and wasn't he in an authorative and controlling position relating to Racing?

 

Start the ball rolling in your necks of the woods 

[meomy]

@Theladdownsouth

Are you sure you don't work for Mark Benioff and Salesforce?

He's a world wide spin doctor and party to world problems - Froth rises to the top...

You may have seen pop up adds in the Herald website for them.

[Theladdownsouth]

44 minutes ago, meomy said:

@Theladdownsouth

It's not Council Planners as you state who are contributing to this, it goes back to Statistics and Census collections of Information and how they are being gathered and interpreted to and are used.

 

In the background are people who have and are misappropriating Public Assets and funds who need to be held to account.

 

There's understood to be some very annoyed rate and taxpayers in little ole NZ so watch this space.

 

Those people making these decisions, and encouraging others to sell up Public owned lands and signing of our Racing Sector assets are all accountable and must be held to account.

 

Do remember Grant Robertson's father was a crooked Accountant and wasn't he in an authorative and controlling position relating to Racing?

 

Start the ball rolling in your necks of the woods 

Let’s be clear. This isn’t about Statistics or Census data. Numbers don’t make decisions – people do. And the real problem is the individuals mismanaging, misappropriating, and selling off public and racing assets while hiding behind processes and paperwork. That’s not planning, that’s systematic stripping of value from communities and sectors that belong to all of us.

Ratepayers and taxpayers aren’t just annoyed – they’re rightly furious. Years of poor oversight, questionable decisions, and the signing off of public assets can’t just be swept under the rug. Accountability isn’t a suggestion, it’s a necessity. Those responsible, and anyone encouraging or enabling them, must be named, challenged, and held fully to account.

This isn’t some abstract issue. These are real assets, real money, and real consequences for communities across New Zealand. Public resources aren’t a plaything for a few with influence – they’re meant to serve the public. And anyone treating them as otherwise should expect scrutiny, resistance, and the full force of public expectation.

[BUCKY]

The problems Hawkes Bay racing faces only start with the camber of the track...which has been an issue for many years.

The infrastructure, especially the main grandstand, would get a big 'fail ' in a H&S survey. A rabbit warren inside, dry old furniture and fittings, its an absolute fire hazard. To even contemplate any renovations involves $millions and the money just aint there..or the motivation. Will more people come just because their buildings look different? 

For many years the club owned a piece of land opposite the tie-ups, horses would be unloaded on it and walked across a busy road to the tie ups. Absolute nightmare and the club has now sold it and is using another part of the inside of the course..why they didnt do that years ago nobody knows.

I've been going there for many years, the 'Spring ' carnival used to be a delight and I won a number of races with horses I bred and owned or part owned. But the last few years of that 'carnival ' were an embarrassment, most of the crowd under 30 only went there to get pissed.

I'm not going to go into detail but some people on their committee are way out of their depth. Hence the situation they find themselves in. Time to face reality and stop the financial ' bleeding '. As in other places in NZ racing in Hawkes Bay is over. Dreams of a 'Greenfield ' new track etc are just that, dreams. Who do they think will relocate to that area? Costs $thousands to race anywhere apart from Hastings now with the cost of horse transport,especially to the 'new' racing metropolis of Ellerslie.

Time for the industry to get real, sell Hastings and stop the dreaming.

 

[scooby3051]

And for me the Greenfields will NEVER happen, pie in the sky corporate speak that is just BS and fluff.

[meomy]

37 minutes ago, BUCKY said:

The problems Hawkes Bay racing faces only start with the camber of the track...which has been an issue for many years.

The infrastructure, especially the main grandstand, would get a big 'fail ' in a H&S survey. A rabbit warren inside, dry old furniture and fittings, its an absolute fire hazard. To even contemplate any renovations involves $millions and the money just aint there..or the motivation. Will more people come just because their buildings look different? 

For many years the club owned a piece of land opposite the tie-ups, horses would be unloaded on it and walked across a busy road to the tie ups. Absolute nightmare and the club has now sold it and is using another part of the inside of the course..why they didnt do that years ago nobody knows.

I've been going there for many years, the 'Spring ' carnival used to be a delight and I won a number of races with horses I bred and owned or part owned. But the last few years of that 'carnival ' were an embarrassment, most of the crowd under 30 only went there to get pissed.

I'm not going to go into detail but some people on their committee are way out of their depth. Hence the situation they find themselves in. Time to face reality and stop the financial ' bleeding '. As in other places in NZ racing in Hawkes Bay is over. Dreams of a 'Greenfield ' new track etc are just that, dreams. Who do they think will relocate to that area? Costs $thousands to race anywhere apart from Hastings now with the cost of horse transport,especially to the 'new' racing metropolis of Ellerslie.

Time for the industry to get real, sell Hastings and stop the dreaming.

 

Tinder dry furniture/ building is highly probably made out of Kauri, Rimu or Totara native Timber so don't knock it, far greater standing and sustainable  than the plastic crap and Quality these days.

Timber that was hand felled, sawn, carved and pieced together tongue and groove, with a hand made Metal Hammer and a slim man.

 

The pressed metal ceilings are Wunderlich ones found in many well maintained Heritage buildings starting from The Victorian era.

Learn a little about Architecture @BUCKY

 

The track camber is easy to fix and would be fixed had Racing not  kicked the grass roots animal and land knowledge people out of the Metropolitan running the show 

 

Bring back those who work on the land, and we don't mean Developers or Construction sector, but those who til the land like they used to - the Draught Horses and plough to fix the tracks - animals are the best for maintaining land and pasture.

 

Racecourses were located on lands not suitable for housing for a reason. Land Surveying, Town Planning Municipal Corporations Act 101

[scooby3051]

Time to get into the 21st Century meomy...times have changed and you need to too.

[meomy]

2 minutes ago, scooby3051 said:

Time to get into the 21st Century meomy...times have changed and you need to too.

Spend some time amongst Grand Buildings.

Ellerslie new stand from the 1980's/ 1990's is still plastic coated, when are they fixing all those leaks?

Buildings built today have far greater issues, then there's all those issues with apartments, St Luke's, Byron, Seascape etc.

Yes let's bowl them all.

 

[Ponderosa8]

12 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

I always thought Flaxmere was considered the slum area of the HB. I'm not a local so I may be wrong, but I think that is the impression the rest of the country has. Isn't it where most of the crime happens?

Probably would have been better if they said "near Bridge Pa".

The Hastings Golf Club is there which has held the NZ PGA Championship over the last couple of years, and there's also the Bridge Pa airport, so Craig Grylls could fly in there and perhaps walk to the course... he may already fly in there anyway.

Oh.. but the Hastings Regional Prison is also nearby too!!

[floppy]

Darrin Balcombe will be grinning ear to ear after his success with rebuilds at Te Aroha and Awapuni ,will this be number 3 under his management

[Tesio]

Does anyone know the rough number of horses trained in the Hawks Bay?

[scooby3051]

12 minutes ago, meomy said:

Spend some time amongst Grand Buildings.

Ellerslie new stand from the 1980's/ 1990's is still plastic coated, when are they fixing all those leaks?

Buildings built today have far greater issues, then there's all those issues with apartments, St Luke's, Byron, Seascape etc.

Yes let's bowl them all.

 

Please do not spoil every thread with this type of stuff. I appreciate you posting but please I have said many times time to get into the 21st century...old days are gone and aint coming back.