Hawke's Bay Tribune

The first issue of the Hawke’s Bay Tribune, incorporating the Hastings Standard, was published on 12 December 1910. William Whitlock of the Standard continued to print and publish the new paper.

The 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake dealt a severe blow to both Hastings and the Tribune. The newspaper’s office was severely damaged and production ceased for close to two weeks, although small daily bulletins were issued by the Tribune. Tribune reporter A L ‘Darby’ Ryan was killed when the clock tower of the Hastings Post Office collapsed on him; reportedly, when his body was recovered from the rubble, a pencil and pad were in his hands and his pocket contained ‘copy’ collected during his morning round. The printing plant of the Napier morning newspaper, the Hawke’s Bay Herald, was completely destroyed by the earthquake and the Tribune took over printing of the Herald.

The earthquake and the Depression years took a heavy toll on the Herald and in 1937 it was merged with the Tribune. The new paper was called the Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune and its first issue appeared on 16 January 1937.

In 1982 ownership of the Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune and its long-time rival, the Daily Telegraph of Napier, was amalgamated. The two newspapers continued to be published separately, but in 1999 they were merged to become Hawke’s Bay Today.