Originally known as Ahuriri, Napier was founded by the government in 1855, and is Hawke’s Bay’s oldest town. The name “Napier” commemorates Sir Charles Napier, the commander-in-chief of …

Napier soon flourished though, and became a well-established commercial centre with a growing port, servicing a wide area. 1931 Earthquake At 10.47am on Tuesday 3 February 1931, Napier suffered a …

Napier (/ ˈneɪpiər / NAY-pee-ər; Māori: Ahuriri) is a city on the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Hawke's Bay region. It is a beachside city with a seaport, known for its …

1859: January 1 – Electoral roll for Napier contained 89 names. March 6 – First church in Napier, St Mary’s Chapel (Catholic), opened at corner of Shakespeare and France Roads. April 23 – First …

On Tuesday 3 February 1931 Napier, in common with most of the Hawke's Bay district, suffered a disastrous earthquake 2.5 minutes in length. The earthquake rocked the town almost totally levelling …

Hawke's Bay's sense of itself as a distinctive region has always been strong and a succession of institutions have been instrumental in supporting the regions desire to explore that distinctiveness. …

Hawke’s Bay has many historic sites and buildings, including Ōtātara pā in Taradale, colonial houses and grand homesteads. The region, and especially Napier, is known for its art deco architecture.

Hawke's Bay (Māori: Te Matau-a-Māui)[5] is a region on the east coast of New Zealand 's North Island. The region is named after Hawke Bay, which was named in honour of Edward Hawke. The region's …

Deadly Hawke's Bay earthquake 3 February 1931 Ruins of the Napier nurses’ home following the earthquake (Alexander Turnbull Library, 1/2-002952-F) When the earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the …

As the towns progressed, communication with other Hawke's Bay centres increased. In 1867, telegraph and road services between Napier and Waipawa commenced and in 1874, the railway began in …