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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 sunny climate, [3] esplanade lined with Norfolk pines, and extensive Art Deco architecture.
Find out a brief history of Napier City, early maori history, 1931 earthquake, boundary change to include Taradale and historic photos.
As the only export centre and largest town in Hawke's Bay, Napier assumed considerable importance between 1858 and 1876 when the provincial system was abolished. Even then, the town "continued to reflect the entrenched political, economic and social interests of the pastoralists".
Napier was first sighted by Europeans in October 1769, when Captain Cook sailed down the east coast of the North Island. Later, traders, whalers and missionaries were the forerunners of permanent residency here, and in the 1850's farmers and hotel keepers arrived.
From a well-documented Māori history with Ngāti Kahungunu, to Captain Cook being the first European to discover Napier, to a devastating earthquake, Napier is rich in history.
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 British forces in India. Napier Library has a wide range of resources to help you in your journey of discovery as you learn about our rich history.
Napier, city and port, eastern North Island, New Zealand, on the southwestern shore of Hawke Bay. Laid out in 1856, the town was named for Sir Charles Napier, a 19th-century British military commander in India. It was made a borough in 1874 and a city in 1950.
