Despite some pretty grim social statistics, Hawke's Bay people are pretty happy.
"We are going to have some serious challenges in the next 30 years," Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule told a public meeting last night.
Almost 100 people turned out to a public meeting in Clive discussing how to build a "decent" Hawke's Bay society.
Mr Yule reiterated the region's weaknesses - 19 per cent unemployed, 44 per cent unable to meet daily living needs and some of New Zealand's least safe streets. Yet we were among the happiest in the country, Mr Yule said.
"It's almost like everybody's on dope.