Egos, lattes and tractors make Bay, says Lonely Planet

STAFF REPORTERS
The new edition of the Lonely Planet guide to New Zealand doesn't hold back on its people, its vibe, or its attractions.
And with more than 120,000 copies of the 13th edition of the guide to be printed, what it says does matter.
Havelock North is described as being "five kilometres southeast of Hastings' rural toil. Havelock North is a different kettle of fish (or vat of wine) altogether. Range Rovers and BMWs cruise the streets as bleached blonde 50-something wine wives sip lattes in a prosperous village atmosphere. The towering backdrop of Te Mata Peak keeps egos in check.
Hastings, "unlike Napier, where life revolves around tourism, café society and high times, Hastings is a utilitarian agricultural town, with tractors on the streets and little of the chutzpah Napier manifests so readily.
"A random scene: a shirtless young renegade drives his ember-red utility around and around Hastings' main block, The Doors' Light My Fire stuck on repeat, blaring from open windows, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lip. The question is, will Hastings light your fire?"
Napier: "Shaken to the ground by an earthquake in 1931, Napier has emerged Phoenix-like from tragedy into a new era of prosperity. A dignified, sunny, composed city, there's the air of an affluent English seaside resort about the place. The focus rests squarely on Napier's urban virtues: its much-vaunted Art Deco architecture is milked for every tourist dollar, while good-looking middle-agers who've had too much sun glide between cool cafes."
Mahia Peninsula is "like Santorini crossed with Dover, Mahia's bald hills are interspersed with conifer stands, giving way to white sandstone cliffs and dark-brown beach sand, sighing beneath the lilting cadence of a vivid blue sea. Majestic in sun or storm."
Wairoa: "A pit-stop river town a little thin on charisma." Views on the guidebook's interpretations were mixed. Havelock North's Village Meat Co-Op owner Shaun Barrett said the description of Havelock North was "very true".
"I have heard of people talking in the Havelock North accent," he said.
Mr Barrett, who is from Hastings, was still positive about working in Havelock North and the village's coffee culture was a big attraction.
Bart Thompson, who runs the Havelock North information centre, said the guide's take on the village were a "little bit unfair".
"But I guess there is some truth in it."
He said if he had written the review he would talk about Havelock North's lifestyle and the number of people who had relocated from city centres to live there.
Neville Jackson, who owns Jackson's Bakery in Middle Road and Jackson's Café in Joll Road in Havelock North, also felt the comments "were not very fair".
"I have travelled all over the world and this would be one of the best place in the world," he said.
Rata Purdy, who moved to the village with her family from Upper Hutt to last month, felt the same.
"I mean, have they been to Upper Hutt?" she asked.
"I just like the village life here, I like the way people are always out exercising, families always go out together.
"It's not city life but it's not country life either," she said.
Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said the guide "could have been a bit more glowing, but was happy to concede the "tourist capital" tag to Napier.
"It's no big deal," he said, saying Hastings would continue to dominate the business pages.
"Hastings is an agricultural servicing town.
"Most of the business in Hawke's Bay is generated in Hastings, because that's what we do."
The only time tractors were seen on the city's main street was during parades, like last week's 50th celebrations or the Blossom Festival, he said.
Mr Yule declined to comment on the Havelock North ego reference because "I could get myself in trouble here". Hastings City Marketing acting manager Suzy Melhuish said the guide's Hastings section was "neither true nor fair", and was "obviously written tongue-in-cheek".
"I don't think there's any point in us suing them," she laughed.
Mrs Melhuish had her own warning for its readers.
"I've been around the world with Lonely Planet and if you took every word they said as gospel you'd never leave your front door."
The author, she said "probably lives in Napier - but you can't put that in, that's just what we're trying to quash.
"We're all one big happy family."
In Napier Graham Bell, deputy chairman of Inner City Marketing, was more than happy with the book's take on his city.
"I think we have always got to take into account that this is one person's opinion.
"But judging by the amount of national and international visitors that are visibly enjoying themselves on the streets of Napier, I think that is a very good endorsement for the city," Mr Bell said.