March 2 Napier

February 24

Napier is just the coolest little town.  We loved strolling the city streets in the morning, then wine tasting at Abbey cellars and Black Barn Vineyards, a couple of the Hawke’s Bay region wineries, in the afternoon. The Gowers and Faucetts will remember visiting Craggy Range winery when we visited NZ the last time.

Napier is Hawke’s Bay’s oldest town, founded in 1855. The town was established on a small semi-island between the sea and an inner harbor.  It was an ideal location for a port, which was why Napier became the leading town of the region. However, the lack of space remained a problem until 1931 when at 10:46am; Feb. 3 the Hawke’s Bay 7.9 earthquake raised the inner harbor. The quake ripped right through the streets of Napier for 2.5 minutes leaving the tiny town a pile of rubble.  Then someone smelled smoke.  A fire had started in a local pharmacy incinerating the rubble as well as everything in its path including the nearby village, Hastings.  Unfortunately the firehouse had been destroyed by the earthquake with the equipment trapped inside. Over the next two weeks there were 525 aftershocks.  In total, 258 local people perished.  Astoundingly, the entire area was raised up by this cataclysmic thrust a staggering seven feet creating 9,000 new acres of dry land!

It was determined by the hardy folks of Napier to immediately begin to rebuild the town. The Napier Reconstruction Committee was formed and plans for a new central business district began to take shape. Being profoundly influenced by the European Art Deco style of the mid-1920’s it was decided to rebuild the city using that style of architecture mixed with the California Spanish mission style having been impressed by stories of Santa Barbara’s recovery after a 1925 earthquake.

What you’ll see in the pictures is the result of these remarkable people and the love of their town.  They host an Art Deco Festival each year where attendees dress in 1920’s attire and enjoy all the fun this town has to offer.

Enjoy the pictures.  

       Cheers!

One of the many cute streets of  Napiers' City Center

Street around the city square

The city center is so cute and clean!

One of the many boutique hotels and restaurants

This sign was on the sidewalk just beyond the Provincial Hotel

One of many churches

The city square was used after the 1931 earthquake as the gathering center and tent city

Jeff Gower, this ones for you!!

One of many sculptures around town

We thought this was a cute play on words.  I think it was another hotel

These identical houses called Six Sisters was built by a father who had
6 daughters and did not want them to move away from Napier!

Loved the kiwis on the front of this place

The next three are examples of the many restored cars that are used for tours
and during the Festivals around town.

Another mode of transportation

We had to take a picture of this sign in the public restroom.
We have just as high standards for loo's as we have for wine!!!