New mural celebrates Hastings' rural past
The old Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-op Association garage in Hastings has become home to a new mural celebrating the activities that happened in the building.
A new solo exhibition by Manawatu artist Graham Christensen captures rural scenes that may someday be forgotten.
On Sunday the 17th of February, Christensen will be opening his second solo exhibition 'Classic New Zealand Farming' in Mangaweka.
The exhibition aims to capture rural moments in time that will likely be forgotten as each generation of farmer moves on.
Christensen has spent most of his life involved in farming, mainly in the Manawatu, but only started painting in his 60s.
Classic New Zealand Farming opens on Sunday the 17th of February at 2pm with an opportunity to meet the artist over drinks and nibbles at the Yellow Church Gallery, State Highway 1, Mangaweka.

Owners and lessees of certain Hino Trucks New Zealand diesel vehicles have just 10 days remaining to register or opt out of a proposed $10.9 million class action settlement.
Silver Fern Farms has successfully produced and delivered 90 tonnes of premium chilled New Zealand lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates via airfreight.
For the first three months of 2026, new tractor deliveries saw an increase over the previous two months, resulting in year-to-date deliveries climbing to 649 units - around 5% ahead of the same period in 2025.
QU Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has issued a warning saying that global fertiliser scarcity caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz will lead to lower yields and tightening food supplies into 2027.
Federated Farmers is urging Canterbury's council leaders to move quickly on local government reform.
Having represented New Zealand at the 2024 and 2005 World Ploughing Championships, in Estonia and The Czech Republic respectively, Southland contractor Mark Dillon was at Methven last month for the NZ Ploughing Champs.