Discover Napier's Art Deco Heritage
Napier, located in Hawke Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island, is renowned for its distinctive art deco architecture. This architectural style emerged after a devastating earthquake and fire in February 1931, which destroyed much of the downtown area. The disaster, which claimed 256 lives and injured thousands, remains New Zealand's worst natural catastrophe. The rebuilding of Napier in the 1930s led to the prevalence of art deco designs, making the town a unique destination for architecture enthusiasts.
Exploring Napier's Architectural Gems
Strolling through Napier's downtown is a walk into its art deco past. While you can explore independently using a helpful app, the guided tours departing from the I-SITE Visitor Centre are highly recommended. These hour-long tours provide insights into the town's architectural highlights, including a Frank Lloyd Wright prairie-style building and a notable example of art deco design featuring Māori motifs.
The guided experience also shares amusing stories about the waving woman and boy statues on Emerson Street. It started with the life-sized waving woman, and then the question was, "Who is she waving to?" Hence, the waving boy!
A Glimpse into Napier's Past
The tour includes a 20-minute film that delves into the 1931 earthquake and its aftermath. This film features footage shot the day before the disaster, for a rare look at the town's transformation. It's astonishing to learn that much of what is now Napier was once a lagoon, uplifted and naturally drained by the earthquake. The town's seawall, under construction at the time, became unnecessary due to these dramatic changes.
Getting to Napier
To reach Napier, you can fly into Hawke's Bay Airport, located just a short drive from the town centre. Alternatively, if you're driving, Napier is a 5-hour, 410 km drive from Auckland on State Highway 1, SH5 from Taupo and then SH2. From Wellington, the drive is around 4 hours, 320 km, on SH1, SH57, and SH2.
While in Napier, check out Napier's Waterfront Walkway, Napier Quays, Bluff Hill and Te Mata Peak, plus a winery restaurant.
