Napier marks 150 years of history this November. It’s 150 years since Napier became a borough, thereby getting its own mayor and council, along with agency over its future. It was a call that came from the community. Advocates for the borough classification wanted Napier to chart its own course and for its people to have a voice in their city’s planning and future.
Becoming a borough was more than just a label change. It was reinforcement of the spirit of Napier’s people, their grit, energy and enthusiasm for developing an iconic city.
In 1975, the then mayor Peter Tait, defined the spirit of Napier people in his contribution to the centenary programme:
“We pay tribute to their foresight, their sacrifice and their determination to lay a firm foundation for the building of a fair city. The strength of our city has always been the ‘Spirit of the People’. They came through fire in 1886, through flood in 1897, through earthquake in 1931, through wars and depressions and by adversity they became strong.”
More recently, Napier has experienced a pandemic, flooding and a cyclone, and it’s been that same spirit, and an ability to work together and care for each other, that has seen the city and its people through.
The current mayor, Kirsten Wise, has witnessed firsthand that strength in the face of adversity. She also knows Napier loves to welcome visitors whether it’s for sightseeing, shows, sports or business, or to stay with friends and family.
“In some respects, it is our resilience that’s core to us as a community. It’s the essence of Napier. We’ve worked together and built those strong bonds and partnerships and that’s as much a part of us as the good times,” says Kirsten. “Perhaps we celebrate louder and prouder because of what we’ve been through. We live in this isolated but beautiful place. We know we are lucky to live here, and when people visit there’s something that gets into their hearts and makes them come back.”
In commemorating a milestone of 150 years, Napier honours that spirit and the significant moments that have shaped the city.
A Warm Welcome
Through many strands of Napier’s history, there are tales of hospitality and manaakitanga. For eons, the estuary Te Whanganui-a-Orotu was known for its abundance. It was a place that fed thousands at hui, welcoming manuhiri from across the country. Traditional stories of the estuary tell of its ability to feed people morning, noon and night with its wide array of offerings.
In early European history, Napier was a place of rest and recreation for traders, whalers and missionaries. It was seen as a sanctuary, a safe harbour along a tough coastline. Overall, Napier certainly knows how to hold a party. Celebration is woven into the fabric of Napier and its culture and community, this innate ability to be superb hosts.
Since its earliest history, Napier has been formed and re-formed by the elements, by natural disasters and by the sheer determination of people. From Tu Ahuriri, who carved out the spit between Te Karaka and Rangatira to the 30,000 Club who began the land raising that became Marine Parade, Napier people are a determined lot.
The infamous 30,000 Club made their mark on Napier from 1912 until 1975. Many of the streets in the city are named for them, and their legacy includes Kennedy Road’s Phoenix palm trees and the Soundshell, the Pania of the Reef statue and Napier’s first aquarium. They were a proactive and driven service club determined to put Napier on the map by creating events and beautifying streetscapes to attract new residents and visitors. Many of their initiatives were community gatherings like Mardi Gras, festivals, parades and carnivals.
History & Future
Ronda Chrystal has a long family history with Napier. Her great-grandfather was a cabinet maker and undertaker on Shakespeare Road, whose family arrived in the mid-1800s. Her grandfather was legendary mayor Ron Spriggs – known as Mr Napier – a member of the 30,000 Club.
“When I was a little girl and I went to town with him, it would take over an hour to walk down Emerson Street, because everyone wanted to talk to him,” recounts Ronda, whose grandfather died in 2000, aged 102.
“Every Friday, he would meet with members of the 30,000 Club at the Napier Cafeteria, and on special occasions I’d go with him. I loved listening to them reminisce. They were so proud of what they had achieved for Napier. They wanted to make Napier even better, beautify the city, make it a destination. They were very generous with their money and their time. And they were forceful.”
With the backdrop of heritage buildings, a compact inner city and proximity to the stunning vistas of the Bay, Ronda feels Napier has always been a desirable destination.
“We were known as the Party Town. Those old families who had been here for generations wanted to build a city for the future, they had foresight and a vision for what was possible; that spirit is still alive and well here,” Ronda says.
“Napier is glamourous too. All the festivals bring that out, because people here love to get dressed up. We’re quite classy! And we’ve come through hard times – generations of hard times – so pride and resilience is bred into us. We’re small but we punch above our weight!”
With a packed agenda of 150th events, Ronda hopes the community will jump on board and make the commemoration their own. “We are celebrating our people, from the past and the present. The 150th is something that brings us together to celebrate who we are. It gives us a reason to look at where we’ve come from and where we’re going.”
Light Up The Night
Mayor Kirsten Wise feels that innovative energy is what helps the community get things done, despite any challenges.
“Events that are fixtures on the calendar, special events and new ones, which we’re adding to commemorate 150 years, are driven often by individuals who want to see cool stuff happen. There’s a motivation that’s part of our spirit,” says Kirsten. “We love having reasons for our friends and family to visit, that’s always been part of Napier. We are a bit of a show-off.”
Over the past few years, events during the Art Deco Festival, New Year’s Eve and Matariki, as well as Nuit Blanche – free to attend, family focused and always with plenty of food offerings – have become Napier signatures.
For the 150th there will be events in the inner city and along Marine Parade, including a classic car show. Anderson Park will be the site of a family fun day. McLean Park too has a role, hosting an open day, something that’s been part of Napier celebrations often over its history.
“This city is perfect for celebration, because it’s compact and everything is really accessible, and the architecture we’re famous for creates this stunning setting,” says Kirsten. “Those nights where we light up the city and everyone comes into town for a meal and to spend the evening together out in the streets – they are really special.”
In marking 150 years, the city and the community are honouring all things Napier. It’s an opportunity to remember great stories, great characters and great moments, and also great strength and resilience. All through the years, Napier has had this ability to bounce back. This year’s commemorations are as much about that as they are about celebration.
To keep up to date with Napier’s 150th commemoration events and happenings visit ourplacenapier.nz
