Flaxmere

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Flaxmere is a town in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island.

It is located to the west of the town of Hastings City, and is regarded as a suburb of its larger neighbour. It had a (2001) population of 4866. It is located in the Hastings Metropolitan Area. It is also known by the Maori name of Paharakeke.

Flaxmere was built to cater to the housing demand of Hastings. Flaxmere was intended to be an upper-middle class subdivision but because land was subdivided into smaller lots it turned into a low income neighbourhood, with the highest crime rate and poverty levels in the Napier-Hastings metro area.

The suburb is typical of modern suburbs with a long avenue (Flaxmere Ave.) running its length with curved streets and cul-de-sacs radiating from it. Parks and reserves are abundant and Flaxmere boasts 3 primary schools and a major high school.

It has a small shopping centre (The Village) with a supermarket, petrol station, post office, bakery, video store, butchery, indoor rock climbing centre, and various other businesses offering necessities and/or leisure. Other amenities include a library, police station, several churches and an indoor swimming complex (Flaxmere Waterworld).

Hastings also contains musical talent within the area. Underground musicians like "Maorified", "Undercover Locals" and "Brute Force" are but a few to be found.