Napier

Napier (Ahuriri in Maori) is a port city in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. It has a population of 57,900 as of the June 2008 estimate. The city is 332 kilometres (by road) north-east of the capital, Wellington. It has a population slightly smaller than the Hastings District, but as Hastings is administered as a district, Napier is the only official city in the Hawkes Bay region. Napier is the largest cross-bred wool centre in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest apple, pear and stone fruit producing areas in New Zealand. It has also become an important grape growing and wine production area with the fruit passing from the growers around Metropolitan Hastings and then to Napier for exporting. There are large frozen meat, wool, pulp and timber tonnages passing through Napiers port.

In 1931 a massive earthquake (7.8 on the Richter scale) nearly obliterated the city of Napier. As a result, many buildings were demolished and rebuilt in the architectural style of the times Art Deco, Spanish Mission and Stripped Classical. Today Napier has one of the most outstanding collections of 1930s architecture in the world influenced heavily by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Chicago School. The Art Deco Walk is a permanent attraction, and each February Napier hosts an Art Deco Weekend a not-too-serious celebration of the 1930s. There are many cafes within walking distance of Napiers central city area and a walk along Marine Parade where there are many amusements; a marine park, mini-golf, swimming pools, roller blading, bumper boats and miniature racing cars, is a pleasant way to start or end the day.

Napier is a popular tourist city, and has one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the country, a statue on Marine Parade called Pania of the Reef. Her statue is regarded in Napier in much the same way that the Little Mermaid statue is regarded in Copenhagen. In October 2005 the statue was stolen, but it was recovered a week later, largely unharmed. Thousands of people flock to Napier every February for the Art Deco Weekend event a celebration of Napier's Art Deco heritage and history. Other notable tourist events attracting many outsiders include the regions annual Wine & Food Festival (named Harvest Hawkes Bay), and Mission Concert at the Mission Estate Winery in the near by town of Taradale. Past artists have included Eric Clapton, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, and Rod Stewart.

Napier will host 2 pool A games one on 18 September featuring France v Canada and one on 27 September Canada v probably Japan. These games will be in: Mclean Park, Morris Street, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Accomodation

Accommodation is abundant in Napier and the surrounding area and ranges from luxury to budget; hotels, self-catering apartments, motels and lodges (some with restaurants), homestay; holiday parks and motor camps with self-catering units, budget cabins and campsites. There is also a beachfront youth hostel for backpackers. To find accommodation near the stadium or in the area check out the following listings just click on each name:

Hotels, Motels

Bed and Breakfasts

Holiday Parks or Camping

Car Hire

We are sure that many of you will be looking for car hire whilst you are in New Zealand. So click here to see our Pegasus page.