In November 1874, the Borough of Napier was formed. Under the mayoralty of Mr J. H. Vautier the area between Dickens Street and Hastings Street South, near Sale Street, was reclaimed, largely with the earth taken from Pukemokimoki Hill.
Looking down Main Street, Napier. Image credit: Alexander Turnbull Library.
The first of the Norfolk pines were planted along the waterfront on Marine Parade to create a European-style promenade. Image credit: MTG Hawke's Bay.
'Taviuni' was carrying the Fillis Circus including elephants, horses and lions. Image credit: MTG Hawke's Bay.
On Good Friday, heavy weather caused Napier and surrounding areas to flood when the Tutaekuri overflowed at Meeanee.
In the 1900s after a period of depression, Napier started to advertise itself more aggressively as a tourist centre. The rugged Napier-Taupo Road, despite its neglected condition, became more popular in the drier summer months. Prosperity was boosted with the export of frozen meat and the development of new industries.
In the early 1900s, larger homesteads and extravagantly decorated buildings like the Masonic Hotel began to be developed. When farewelling the town's troops heading off to the Boer War in 1900, the ho...
Mayor Vigor Brown spearheaded initiatives for the borough, including the establishment of swimming baths equipped with seven hot water salt baths for people suffering from rheumatism and other muscula...
Trams were the going thing in Napier from 1913 until 1931. Tracks were laid in Dickens Street, Hastings Street, over Shakespeare Road to Ahuriri by work gangs.
The Cenotaph in Memorial Square, was unveiled as the focal point for Napier’s First World War commemorations. It has historical significance as a representation of the huge impact of the First World...
At 10.47am on 3 February 1931, a violent 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Hawke’s Bay for almost three minutes. At least 256 people lost their lives, while thousands more required medical treatment. ...
The Soundshell, and its colonnaded surround, was built in 1935 following the 1931 earthquake. Designed by Napier architect J T Watson, the Colonnade and Soundshell were projects undertaken by the T...
In 1954, shoe retailer Les Mills installed a large goldfish tank in his store. He later filled it with tropical fish that his son Ian had purchased from Wellington. The tank proved so popular that...
Napier’s world-renowned Marineland opened in January 1965, two days after its first common dolphin, Daphne, was caught. Within five years one million people had visited, including national sports te...
Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. They were regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in concert with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra headlined the first Mission Concert in 1993. Tickets cost $48 or $10 for children 15 years and under.
Welcome to Y2K - the Year 2000! At the turn of the century Napier's local economy was thriving on agriculture, tourism, and the burgeoning wine industry, drawing visitors to its picturesque landscapes and vineyards. Internet connectivity was gaining momentum, though not yet mainstream, and mobile phones were becoming more commonplace. Similar to today, families engaged in outdoor activities, fostering a close-knit community spirit against the backdrop of Napier's scenic coastal vistas.
Designed by Havelock North artist David Trubridge, this contemporary sculpture placed at the southern end of Marine Parade is inspired by the ecliptic - an astronomical term referring to the great cir...
Barbara Arnott served as the 18th Mayor of Napier between 2001 and 2013.
In the early 1960's, Maraenui, Onekawa, Pirimai and Napier South were settled as people moved from rural areas into the city. By the end of 1999, many of the families in these areas had a history span...
In May 2008 the New Zealand government rejected a petition asking that Napier’s Marineland be allowed to display captive dolphins after their last elderly common dolphin died. The last of Marinelan...
On 9 November 2020, Napier received an extreme level of rain in a short period of time over a small geographic area. Due to the speed and intensity of the weather event, many parts of the city and env...
February 14, 2023, is a date etched in Hawke’s Bay’s history as one of the region’s darkest days. In Napier, Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage and flooding and resulted in a period of e...
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