Armorial Bearings of the City of Hastings, The, 1956

THE ARMORIAL BEARINGS
OF
THE CITY OF HASTINGS
(New Zealand)

Granted by Letters Patent dated 28th September, 1956

URBIS E RURIS CONCORDIA

HERALDIC DESCRIPTION

Arms :   Per pale Argent and Vert a Lion passant guardant dimidiated with the hulk of a Ship between two Lions passant guardant in pale within an Orle of Fern all counterchanged.

Crest :   On a Wreath of the Colours a Kiwi proper beaked Or between two branches of Yellow Kowhai flowered also proper.

Supporters:   On the dexter side a Ram and on the sinister side a Maori holding in the exterior Hand a Taiaha proper.

INTERPRETATION

The shield is based on the ancient arms of the County Borough of Hastings, Sussex, England. These arms in turn were based on those of the Cinque Ports, the corporation of five original towns responsible for providing ships for defence. The Cinque Ports arms featured the Royal Lions of England halved with three ships’ hulls. One of these ‘‘lion-hulks” and two royal lions are seen on the new City arms, within a border of New Zealand fern, and all carried out in white and green.

Above the shield is the esquire’s closed helm which is always used for civic arms, with its crest wreath and mantling or decorative tournament cloak in the colours of the shield, green and white. On the helm stands the crest, the New Zealand Kiwi standing between two sprays of yellow kowhai.

The arms are supported by a ram, representing the importance of the woollen industry to Hawke’s Bay and Hastings, and by a Maori holding a weapon called a taiaha, and wearing a piu-piu or Maori skirt and chieftain’s feathers.

The motto signifies the harmony between city and countryside.

SHAW & SONS LTD., LONDON, E.C.4.