Napier

Napier is a city situated in Hawkes Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island, New Zealand. Napier is about 320 kilometres northeast of Wellington. Less than 20 kilometres south of Napier is the city of Hastings, these two cities are often known as "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities" of New Zealand.

Palm trees line the inner-city streets of Napier. The brilliantly sculpted Marine Parade runs along the shore of the city. Along Marine Parade various parks, gardens and memorials give the water's edge its individual qualities.

Napier is known as the Art Deco City, as it has the most complete collection of inner-city art deco buildings in the world. In February there is an Art Deco Festival which celebrates the reconstruction of Napier City after a devastating earthquake in 1931. The festival involves music, performers, trains, planes and automobiles; picnics and galas.

Napier is also the home of New Zealand wine and has the oldest wineries and wine-making establishments in the country. With some of the best sunshine hours in New Zealand, mountainous shelter from westerly winds, and refreshing sea breezes, not only is Napier a great climate for visiting, but it is a great location for grape growing.

Napier History

Many centuries ago, when the Ngati Kahungunu party of Taraia reached the district, the Whatumamoa, Rangitane and the Ngati Awa and elements of the Ngati Tara iwi were in nearby areas of Petane, Te Whanganui-a-Orotu and Waiohiki. Later, the Ngati Kahungunu became the dominant force from Poverty Bay to Wellington. They were one of the first Maori tribes to come in contact with European settlers.

The first European to see Napier was Captain Cook, who sailed down the east coast in October 1769. By the 1850s, farmers and hotel-keepers arrived.

Main Towns in the Hawkes Bay Region

Other Towns in the Hawkes Bay Region

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