New residents moving into Hastings District Council’s Howard Street housing development will soon enjoy streets that honour the land’s rich heritage and the families who helped shape it for generations.
The names for the streets created for the development, Masters Crescent and Valona Lane, recognise the long-standing contributions of the Masters and Gee families to the Howard Street area. Both families have grown produce in the area that has supported the wider Hastings
community for more than a century.
At a small gathering (pictured) to unveil the new streets recently, residents, whānau, neighbours, Hastings councillors and community members heard from members of both families about their history in the area. Also attending were several developers already planning or delivering new homes in the area, including Hero International, TUMU Property, TW Property and Cranford Hospice.
Heather Masters said she and her husband, Tony, lived and worked on the land there for 49 years, and said it was very special to be acknowledging the family through the street names.
Her brother-in-law, Bob Masters, also attended and spoke of how the family first arrived in Hawke’s Bay in 1884, with those early generations growing hops in the Howard Street area before moving into apples and pears.
“It was the first and only hops garden in the North Island. Tony then went on to be part of setting up the Apples and Pears board, taking over the orchard just prior to the Rogernomics era when New Zealand farming and fruit growing was tipped on its head – that was the end of small family orchards,” he said.
Ken Gee, who owned Valona Gardens, also attended and told those gathered that his garden used to cover 60% of the subdivision.
He also shared that 55 years ago he created the word Valona for the business – meaning Vegetables Are Life Offering Necessity Always.
His daughter’s family had most recently run the market garden before it closed, he said.
“It’s one of the greatest moments of my life to be able to unveil a road named after our Valona business name.”
The naming of these two streets marks an important milestone in the Howard Street development, which began in 2022. With Council providing infrastructure for around 350-plus new homes, the project is a key part of Hastings’ place-based strategy to create well-connected, vibrant neighbourhoods for a growing population.
Hastings Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst said the new street names reflected the deep ties between the land, its history, and the community.
“We are proud to honour the Masters and Gee families, whose hard work and dedication helped shape the identity of this land,” she said.
“As our district continues to grow, it is important to remember the people who made Hastings the thriving, vibrant place it is today. Masters Crescent and Valona Lane will be a daily reminder of the strong foundations on which our future communities are built.”
