Tens of thousands of young people are arriving home in Aotearoa due to Covid-19 and fewer than normal are leaving.
According to the latest ASB regional economic scoreboard, Hawke's Bay is the second fastest growing region in the country. Photo: 123RF
In Hawke's Bay, a new programme's being launched to help those arriving back, or those new to the community, build social connections.
Twenty-six-year-old robotics software engineer David Robinson moved back to New Zealand just as the pandemic started to emerge on the world scene.
He said moving to Hawke's Bay from Pittsburgh, in the US state of Pennsylvania, was a huge change and initially jarring.
"Coming back from what was a relatively medium-sized US city. New Zealand is a lot quieter and Hawke's Bay is a quiet part of the country, so it was kind of a double whammy on that front."
But he said with time, it started to feel like home.
"You know after about six months of just getting used to that shock change, we've really embraced that and it's been pretty fantastic. I think you just have to be a little bit intentional and embrace that change."
David Robinson moved to Hawke’s Bay after living in Pennsylvania Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
Agricultural field officer, 29-year-old Teresa Lewis, returned to New Zealand about a year ago after living in rural Australia.
She moved to Auckland but then, to escape traffic and the long commute, she came to Hawke's Bay in March.
But she said finding a home - to rent or to buy - was tough and it took her and her partner three months to find a house while looking at over 100 homes.
She said this was the "worst part" of moving.
Lewis said it was not easy moving to a new place, but the people she has met in her shared office space have been friendly and open.
"Everyone is big on networking and making sure people are comfortable and talking about each other a little bit so it helps, it's just it will take a while to find my feet and figure it out."
To help new comers and returnees, some in the region have dreamed up a new initiative called After Hours.
It aims to bring Hawke's Bay's young movers and shakers together through the likes of events, presentations and parties.
Teresa Lewis says finding a house in Hawke’s Bay was “the worst part” of moving. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
This was supported by Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, whose own daughter moved back from Canada recently.
She said people need support if they had been away for a while.
"When people have been away for a very long time they've lost their social networks, their friends, and this is about being able to support them to meet like minded people, build new connections."
According to the latest ASB regional economic scoreboard, Hawke's Bay is the second fastest growing region in the country.
In Hastings itself, the council estimate the district's population at 30 June 2019 was 86,100 and increased 2 percent to 88,000 in June 2020.
This is confirmed by Infometrics data, showing the health enrolments in the district increased 3 percent from 80,185 in March 2019 to 82,883 in March 2021.
Hazlehurst said to keep this up, they needed to attract and retain young people.
"We need their talent here, we haven't got our borders open, we can't bring anybody back from overseas, we're relying on our young professionals and our young, talented pool to take up jobs here."
After Hours organiser Alice McKinley had felt the challenges personally, as a couple of her friends died from suspected suicide recently.
After Hours organiser Alice McKinley pictured with her dog Charlie. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
So she was calling for change.
"We're trying to create those new experiences and actually get people together and at least build these friendships."
After Hours is holding its first event later this month.
Where to get help:
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