The Hawke's Bay Museum and Art History 9 Herschell Street, Napier 06-835 7781.
The Art Deco Centre, 163 Tennyson St, Napier. 06- 835 0022.
On the 3rd of February 1931, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Napier, a coastal city on the North Island's East Coast. It lasted for two and half minutes and there were about a 150 aftershocks in the next 12 hours and gas main ruptured resulting in many fires. The city was pretty much destroyed.
The Museum has an excellent exhibition on how Napier pulled itself up from the rubble, the horrific loss of life and ultimately the rebirth of a thriving Art Deco culture. You'll hear moving first hand experiences of what it was like moment by moment. Where people were, what they were doing and ultimately their heroic actions and selflessness that turned this city around. There are artefacts from the quake, photographs to pour over and a large collection of personal stories and publications to read.
On the lighter side, the city now boasts one of the best preserved Art Deco buildings in the world. Its Art Deco festival sells out months in advance and attracts wide international interest. There are guided walks around the buildings with guides wearing appropriate 1930's clothing complete with Derby hat. For those who would rather put their feet up, there is a bus tour and a self drive tour available. The ultimate in luxury is to be driven around in a fully restored 1930's vintage car.
The Art Deco Festival weekend is usually around the 2nd week of February and is extremely popular. Accommodation becomes impossible and the city is burst to overflowing with people dressed in 30's garb while classic vehicles of the era line the streets.
