Things To Do

Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga Hastings Art Gallery

201 Eastbourne Street East, Hastings 4122

Rating: 4.3 ★ (165 ratings)

Details

Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga Hastings Art Gallery serves as the vibrant public art gallery of Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay, Aotearoa New Zealand, showcasing high-quality, contemporary art from the region and beyond. This treasured cultural space in the city of Hastings has long been a significant feature on the regional art scene. Situated within Civic Square, the gallery occupies a distinctive 1970s building, where visitors are first welcomed by Ngā Pou o Heretaunga, an installation of 18 pou tūpuna representing local marae. This powerful display tells a crucial story about the area's heritage and the profound importance of art and culture to the community. As a non-collecting institution, it continually refreshes its lively programme of local, national, and international contemporary art.

Inside, the gallery thoughtfully celebrates artists through a diverse array of exhibitions, presenting contemporary art across various mediums. Its rotating programme ensures a fresh experience with each visit, featuring everything from painting and sculpture to photography, multimedia installations, and toi Māori. The multiple gallery spaces are specifically tailored to each exhibition, offering displays ranging from interactive and tactile experiences to impressive large-scale pieces that encourage thoughtful contemplation. The gallery also provides enriching education programmes and a variety of free public programmes, allowing hundreds of local children to explore their creative side annually. For those wishing to take a piece of Hawke's Bay home, Te Toa, the gallery shop, offers a curated selection of local and national art and objects, often unique one-off items.

This gallery is perfectly suited for anyone seeking to engage with art and culture within Hastings. Being free to enter, it offers an accessible and enriching experience for all visitors, including families and whānau, with activities often available for children. With its consistently changing exhibitions, the gallery guarantees something new to discover, appealing to art enthusiasts and those interested in contemporary New Zealand art. Whether you are looking for a brief cultural interlude or a more extended exploration, the gallery provides an inspiring environment that aims to enrich, challenge, and foster lifelong connections to art.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: Closed | Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Sunday: Closed

Contact

+64 6 871 5095 | http://www.hastingscityartgallery.co.nz/

Comments

Siobhan McCormack
10 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
Tucked away over there I forget about this gem of a gallery ..whatever the Exhibit, when I do actually get in there I can find myself drawn back for another look.. you know its something different to do at lunch time.. you could have a coffee under the trees and then pop in for a meditative distraction from the day...really recommended.
Grace Eastwood
3 Nov 2025
5.0 ★
The gallery is a lovely asset to Hastings. Exhibitions are well presented and offer insights into local Nz artists and creators. Great place to visit.
Eleya b
26 Jul 2025
2.0 ★
Not much to see unfortunately. From the outside looks amazing.
Cool they do kids art free stuff in holidays though.
Johan Jonah Anyi
6 Jun 2019
5.0 ★
Awesome art gallery. I got the chance to learn more about Jan Nigro's work. As an Asian, her artworks are abit thought-provoking, but you can begin to understand her point of view from the well designed art gallery. Kudos! 👍🏼👍🏼👌🏻👌🏻
Kama Hopkins
17 May 2018
5.0 ★
We loved the interactive exhibits and activities during the school holidays. Really nice little gallery.

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