When record numbers of new residents are heading to Hawke's Bay from Auckland, Wellington and even offshore, we surely have to look around and think - hey, we have something good here.
Yes, over the last year we have seen the region's problems as well - begging and homelessness have been under the spotlight this year, and our use and abuse of tonnes of plastic has been called into question.
With a new year ticking over it's a good time to decide on resolutions that make a difference. Social aid agencies need volunteers and donations - there is a foodbank donation box in most supermarkets for those who are caring-but-hurried.