Deco facades
On Emerson Street.
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Central Napier, on the east coast of the North Island, holds one of the most complete groups of Art Deco buildings in the world. Streets of low, pastel buildings with geometric ornament and raised lettering lead to Marine Parade on the sea, lined with tall Norfolk pines and gardens. On 3 February 1931 a powerful earthquake destroyed most of the town centre, and only a very few buildings survived. Almost the whole centre was rebuilt, largely by January 1933, when the town celebrated with a New Napier Carnival. Most of the new buildings were Art Deco, some Spanish Mission, mostly by local architects. Rubble from the ruined buildings was used to reclaim part of the foreshore. The Art Deco Trust was formed in the mid-1980s to protect this heritage and grew the annual Art Deco Festival. You walk Emerson Street and the streets around it to see the facades, then go down to Marine Parade; guided walks leave from the Art Deco Centre. It is in the centre of Napier itself. Facades look best in the morning sun.
On Emerson Street.
And its pines.
From the Deco Centre.
Central Napier and Marine Parade, Hawke's Bay
The town was rebuilt after the 1931 quake.
Two hours to half a day.