Visitors spent up large in Hastings in the three months to March, helping retail statistics continue the growth of the previous 18 months.
The latest Market View retail spending statistics showed overall growth on a par with the national level, but a large increase in visitor spending.
For the three months ending March 31, spending in Hastings grew by 5.2 per cent compared to the same three months last year, while in Havelock North spending rose by 6.4 per cent. The national increase was 5.6 per cent.
Total spend in Hastings reached $66.1 million; in Havelock North turnover reached just over $34.2m.
The percentage of locals spending within the district also grew, up 4.3 per cent in Hastings and 6.4 per cent in Havelock North. In Hastings, Napier cardholders contributed 17.7 per cent of turnover ($7.44 million), up 5.2 per cent on the same time last year.