82-518: Napier ( / ˈ n eɪ p i ər / 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, esplanade lined with Norfolk pines , and extensive Art Deco architecture. For these attributes, Napier is sometimes romantically referred to as
164-469: A Qantas subsidiary, served Auckland from 2015 to 2019 and Sounds Air used to operate direct flights to Blenheim daily. Smaller charter companies also operate, including Air Napier to Gisborne. The airport was historically referred to as Napier Airport, and its IATA code reflects that: NPE. It is situated on land that was formerly the Ahuriri Lagoon, an area that was raised above sea level by
246-494: A South Sea Day Dream . Born in England , he emigrated to New Zealand in 1842 and remained there for a further thirty years, holding many significant political posts. Domett "is said to have been born on 20 May 1811" at Camberwell Grove , Surrey, and records show he was baptised on 4 November 1812 at Bermondsey; the sixth child and fourth son of Nathaniel Domett, a ship-owner. He entered St John's College, Cambridge , but left
328-660: A broken leg possibly saved his life as it prevented him from accompanying Captain Arthur Wakefield (1799–1843), the founder of the Nelson settlement and a younger brother of the New Zealand Company 's principal architect Edward Gibbon Wakefield (1796–1862), to a confrontation with local Māori beside the Wairau River. On 17 June 1843, Wakefield, twenty-one other settlers, and four Maori were killed in
410-557: A civilian. He continued to fire shots from his house, which police besieged, until he committed suicide 40 hours later. On 9 November 2020, a local state of emergency was declared in Napier after the region received 237 mm of rainfall across 24 hours – the most daily rainfall in the city since 1963 and the second most since records began. The event caused widespread flooding, slips, power cuts and evacuations. On 14 February 2023, floods caused by Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed bridges over
492-532: A final proposal did not apply to private lobby groups or individuals, however. After a lengthy and divisive regional campaign to restructure local government in Hawke's Bay, in 2015 the Local Government Commission put forward a final reorganisation proposal to amalgamate Napier City Council with Wairoa District Council, Hastings District Council and Central Hawke's Bay District Council to form
574-399: A majority vote over the entire proposed area, rather than a majority over each existing area, as was previously the case. Yet another change was to allow private submissions to the commission to trigger the process, whereas previously only local councils themselves could request a change in structure or boundary. The legislative restrictions on councils using public funds to support or challenge
656-552: A master of prose. In his free time, he devoted himself to completing the poetic epic Ranolf and Amohia , which was published in London in 1872. A small volume of poems appeared in 1877. He continued to adjust Ranolf and Amohia. In 1883, a revised edition of Ranolf and Amohia was printed with the subtitle "A dream of two lives", indicating the sustained bicultural conception, albeit from a Victorian and British-educated point of view, of this poetic project. Domett's first volume of poetry
738-958: A population density of 643 people per km. Napier City had a population of 64,695 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,454 people (3.9%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 7,455 people (13.0%) since the 2013 census . There were 31,212 males, 33,270 females and 213 people of other genders in 24,858 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 11,913 people (18.4%) aged under 15 years, 11,115 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 27,990 (43.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 13,674 (21.1%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.0% European ( Pākehā ); 24.2% Māori ; 4.2% Pasifika ; 6.5% Asian ; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
820-514: A proposed 'Hawke's Bay Council'. A postal ballot was established to maximise voter returns, and the vote closed on 15 September 2015. An interim count was available later that day, that saw the proposal defeated across the region by about 66%. In Napier, the proposal was rejected by 84% of voters. The city is part of the Napier general electorate and the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Māori electorate. In
902-474: A salt water inlet by the inner harbour in Ahuriri – or on the beaches and playgrounds of Marine Parade, Westshore and Ahuriri. The several rivers that flow through the region are used for water activities, such as jet boating, jet skiing, rowing, kayaking, fishing, whitebaiting and swimming. Development of the region's cycleways and walkways has included dedicated cycle lanes being established on urban streets in
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#1732786952582984-416: A son, Alfred Nelson Domett. During his tenure as Colonial Secretary of New Munster , which he held from 1848 to 1853, Domett published the extensive Statistics of the province of New Munster, New Zealand, from 1841 to 1848 , in which he revealed his vision of "a free, secular and compulsory elementary education for the colony's children". In June 1850 he published The ordinances of New Zealand passed in
1066-709: A whole. During the Last Glacial Period when sea levels were over 100 metres lower than present day levels, the North and South islands were connected by a vast coastal plain which formed at the South Taranaki Bight . During this period, most of the North Island was covered in thorn scrubland and forest , while the modern-day Northland Peninsula was a subtropical rainforest . Sea levels began to rise 7,000 years ago, eventually separating
1148-458: Is a low, narrow sand or stone beach, between these beaches and the mainland is a pretty large lake of salt water I suppose." He said the harbour entrance was at the Westshore end of the shingle beach. After 1830, the site was visited and later settled by European traders, whalers and missionaries. By the 1850s, farmers and hotel-keepers arrived. The Crown purchased the Ahuriri block (including
1230-500: Is a popular tourist city, with a unique concentration of 1930s Art Deco, and to a lesser extent Spanish Mission , architecture, built after much of the city was razed in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake . It also has one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the country, a statue of the figure in local Ngāti Kahungunu mythology, Pania , on Marine Parade, Pania of the Reef . Thousands of people flock to Napier every February for
1312-675: Is home to the professional basketball team Hawke's Bay Hawks , which plays in the National Basketball League . It plays its home games in the Pettigrew Green Arena . Meeanee Speedway is a motorcycle speedway venue, located in Meeanee, on Sandy Road. The track races various types of cars, in addition to motorcycle speedway . It opened in 1961 and is the home of Hawkes Bay Speedway Club. It has held important speedway events, including qualifying rounds of
1394-534: Is important to Napier's economy, with over 70 wineries located in the area. The region featured in Wine Enthusiast Magazine as one of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations in 2015. The region is New Zealand's largest apple, pear and stone fruit producer. The Port of Napier and rail network provides quick export of these goods. A large attraction is the Art Deco building designs. Marine Parade
1476-465: Is in the North Island", "my mother lives in the North Island". Maps, headings, tables, and adjectival expressions use North Island without "the". According to Māori mythology , the North and South Islands of New Zealand arose through the actions of the demigod Māui . Māui and his brothers were fishing from their canoe (the South Island) when he caught a great fish and pulled it right up from
1558-556: Is now the second largest in New Zealand after Marlborough , and grapes grown around Hastings and Napier are sent through the Port of Napier for export. Large amounts of sheep's wool, frozen meat, wood pulp, and timber also pass through Napier annually for export. Smaller amounts of these materials are shipped via road and railway to the large metropolitan areas of New Zealand itself, such as Auckland , Wellington and Hamilton . Napier
1640-419: Is one of Napier's most famous highlights – a tree-lined ocean boulevard with fountains, gardens, mini golf, statues and spas. The National Aquarium is at the south end of Marine Parade. The historic Napier Prison is located off the northern end of Marine Parade. Recent redevelopments of Marine Parade have seen the addition of shaded picnic areas and playgrounds. Napier's theatre scene includes productions put on by
1722-545: Is one of the foremost aquariums in New Zealand. The historic Napier Prison is the oldest prison in New Zealand and visitors can learn about the history of prisons as well as witness the path of the 1931 earthquake. It is the only place in Napier where some of the earthquake damage has been left in place. Tourists flock to Napier in February for Art Deco weekend. In 2018, the festival celebrated its 30th year, attracting an estimated 45,000 people. The Mission Estate Winery Concert in
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#17327869525821804-474: Is one of the two main islands of New Zealand , separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait . With an area of 113,729 km (43,911 sq mi), it is the world's 14th-largest island , constituting 43% of New Zealand's land area. It has a population of 4,077,800 (June 2024), which is 76% of New Zealand's residents, making it the most populous island in Polynesia and
1886-448: The 28th-most-populous island in the world. Twelve main urban areas (half of them officially cities) are in the North Island. From north to south, they are Whangārei , Auckland , Hamilton , Tauranga , Rotorua , Gisborne , New Plymouth , Napier , Hastings , Whanganui , Palmerston North , and New Zealand's capital city Wellington , which is located at the south-west tip of the island. The island has been known internationally as
1968-706: The Napier Operatic Society , based at the Tabard Theatre and putting on musicals at the Napier Municipal Theatre, another notable example of Art Deco architecture. There are high street and boutique stores as well as antique shops, art galleries, and studios of potters, wood turners and craftsman. The marina and waterfront in Ahuriri is a sea-tourism attraction. Swimming and family activities are popular in Pandora Pond –
2050-789: The National Aquarium , the Napier Prison , the Soundshell and the Pania of the Reef statue. The Pania statue on Marine Parade 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. Marineland was a tourist attraction from 1965 until it closed in 2009. The National Aquarium
2132-506: The North Island for many years. The Te Reo Māori name for it, Te Ika-a-Māui , also has official recognition but it remains seldom used by most residents. On some 19th-century maps, the North Island is named New Ulster (named after Ulster province in northern Ireland) which was also a province of New Zealand that included the North Island. In 2009 the New Zealand Geographic Board found that, along with
2214-706: The Speedway World Championship and finals of the New Zealand Solo Championship . Hawke's Bay Airport is the main airport in the Hawke's Bay region and has domestic flight services. It is jointly owned by the government, Napier City Council, and Hastings District Council, and is operated by Hawke's Bay Airport Ltd. The airport is located in the Napier suburb of Westshore . Air New Zealand provides frequent direct flights to and from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Sunair serves Tauranga, Gisborne and Wairoa. Jetstar ,
2296-472: The Tutaekuri River , and damaged a major regional electrical substation at Redclyffe, which cut power to much of northern Hawke's Bay including its telecommunication infrastructure. Flooding also caused extensive property damage to Esk Valley , Taradale and Meeanee , as well as loss of crops, livestock and several human lives. The city is on Napier Hill and the surrounding Heretaunga Plains at
2378-592: The Wairau Affray . Domett married a widowed schoolteacher, Mrs Mary George of Wellington, on 3 November 1856. She had two sons, John (Johnny) George who joined the Colonial Forces and was killed during Te Kooti's War , at the Battle of Te Pōrere near Tongariro , and James George. In his epic poem “Ranolf and Amohia”, Domett speaks of his stepson John as “young, kindly, chivalrous". Alfred and Mary had
2460-538: The " Nice of the Pacific". Napier is located on the territory of Ngāti Kahungunu , one of the country's largest iwi , and as a city has been shaped by nearly two centuries of migration. Its population is about 67,500 as of June 2024. About 18 km (11 mi) south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings . These two neighbouring cities are often called "The Bay Cities" or "The Twin Cities" of New Zealand, with
2542-457: The 1904 auction purchase of the letters by Reginald Smith, head of publishing firm Smith Elder and Co. The epic Ranolf and Amohia, a South Sea Day Dream (1872, new edition 1877), includes details of both European and Māori life, and is by far the best known of his works. Flotsam and Jetsam (1877) is dedicated to Browning. He continued to write poetry all his life, in the style of rhyming panegyrics such as An Invitation, with its allusions to
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2624-426: The 1931 Napier earthquake. The airport is located approximately 22 km north of Hastings Aerodrome , a smaller airport located close to Hastings that caters mainly for flight training and general aviation. The Hawke's Bay region has extensive cycleways and footpaths that originally began as the 'Rotary Pathways' between Napier and Hastings, and is now known as the 'Hawke's Bay Trails'. The network of pathways links
2706-444: The 1960s to 1980s, most of the centre remained intact for long enough to become recognised as architecturally important, and it has been protected and restored since the 1990s. Napier and the area of South Beach , Miami, Florida, are considered to be the two best-preserved Art Deco towns (with the town of Miami Beach, Florida , being mostly decorated in the somewhat later Streamline Moderne style of Art Deco). Beginning in 2007, Napier
2788-590: The 2023 census, 63.1% of North Islanders identified as European ( Pākehā ), 19.8% as Māori , 10.6% as Pacific peoples , 19.3% as Asian , 1.9% as Middle Eastern/Latin American/African, and 1.1% as other ethnicities. Percentages add to more than 100% as people can identify with more than one ethnicity. Māori form the majority in three districts of the North Island: Kawerau (63.2%), Ōpōtiki (66.2%) and Wairoa (68.5%). Europeans formed
2870-539: The 2023 general election, Napier was won by Katie Nimon of the National Party and Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by Cushla Tangaere-Manuel , of the Labour Party . McLean Park is the main sporting venue in Hawke's Bay. The main sports played at the venue are cricket and rugby union . It was used to host matches during the 1987 Rugby World Cup , the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the 2015 Cricket World Cup . The city
2952-525: The Ahuriri district of Hawke's Bay. During his time in Hawke's Bay, Domett played a principal part in naming Napier after General Sir Charles James Napier , GCB (1782–1853), who led the military conquest of Sindh in India in 1843, and the streets of Napier after other men whom he admired in British Indian history and after various poets and literary figures. In 1855, Nelson residents elected Domett to
3034-555: The Esk Valley. Many people use Napier as a gateway to Hawke's Bay, flying in to Hawke's Bay Airport at Westshore from Wellington City , Auckland and Christchurch . Tourists also enter Napier by State Highway 2 along the coast and State Highway 5 from Taupō . The rail line in and out of Hawke's Bay had a passenger service until 2001. Napier markets itself as the Art Deco Capital . The Hawke's Bay wine region
3116-634: The House of Representatives and in September 1856, he was appointed commissioner of Crown lands in Nelson. Thereafter he was the fourth Premier of New Zealand from 1862 to 1863. He represented the electorate of Nelson , first as the Town of Nelson 1855–1860 and then City of Nelson 1860–1866 (retired). As electorates at this time returned multiple members, Domett shared representation of Nelson with Edward Stafford , who had also served as Premier. Domett
3198-594: The Indian subcontinent. Domett named many streets in Napier to commemorate the colonial era of the British Indian Empire . Development was generally confined to the hills and to the port area of Ahuriri. In the early years, Napier covered almost exclusively an oblong group of hills (the Scinde Island ) which was nearly entirely surrounded by the ocean, but from which ran out two single spits, one to
3280-604: The Napier suburb of Greenmeadows which has featured Chris De Burgh, Olivia Newton-John, Eric Clapton, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Sting performing with the NZ Symphony Orchestra, Shirley Bassey, Beach Boys, Doobie Brothers, Tom Jones, and in 2013 Barry Gibb with Carol King. Attractions nearby include the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony and many vineyards bordering Taradale , Hastings City, and north of Napier around Bay View and
3362-630: The Napier-Hastings twin cities. The Napier Rotary Pathway creates a loop that encompasses the city from Esk River, to Westshore, Napier Central, Awatoto, Taradale, Poraiti, and looping back to the Esk Valley. This rotary also has several links to the Hastings Rotary Pathway. North Island The North Island ( Māori : Te Ika-a-Māui [tɛ i.kɐ ɐ mɑː.ʉ.i] , lit. 'the fish of Māui', officially North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui or historically New Ulster )
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3444-480: The Napier-Hastings urban areas, as well as a large variety of off-road pathways, which are often used as mixed use pathways for cyclists and pedestrians, such as the paths that stretch from Bay View to Clifton. The Hawke's Bay Trails contain nearly 200 km of cycleways that meander through and around the cities, and link the Napier-Hastings urban areas with surrounding suburbs and the local district. The annual model aircraft show 'Warbirds over Awatoto' takes place on
3526-506: The North Island is provided by fifteen District Health Boards (DHBs) . Organised around geographical areas of varying population sizes, they are not coterminous with the Local Government Regions . Alfred Domett Alfred Domett CMG (20 May 1811 – 2 November 1887) was the fourth premier of New Zealand , a close friend of the poet Robert Browning and author of the epic poem Ranolf and Amohia,
3608-464: The Rothmans factory, due to diminished demand. Production has moved to Australia. The Art Deco-style factory had been producing up to 2.2 billion cigarettes a year for the New Zealand and Pacific Island markets. In March 1999, 19 people lost their jobs there because "fewer people are smoking". Napier has been governed by Napier City Council since 1950. Local government reform was mooted in
3690-519: The South Island, the North Island had no official name. After a public consultation, the board officially named it North Island, or the aforementioned Te Ika-a-Māui, in October 2013. In prose, the two main islands of New Zealand are called the North Island and the South Island , with the definite article. It is also normal to use the preposition in rather than on , for example "Hamilton
3772-437: The South Island, this is solely due to the North Island having higher natural increase (i.e. births minus deaths) and international migration; since the late 1980s, the internal migration flow has been from the North Island to the South Island. In the year to June 2020, the North Island gained 21,950 people from natural increase and 62,710 people from international migration, while losing 3,570 people from internal migration. At
3854-462: The South Island, with the country's largest city, Auckland, and the capital, Wellington, accounting for nearly half of it. There are 30 urban areas in the North Island with a population of 10,000 or more: The sub-national GDP of the North Island was estimated at NZ$ 282.355 billion in 2021 (78% of New Zealand's national GDP). Nine local government regions cover the North Island and its adjacent islands and territorial waters. Healthcare in
3936-641: The Tremains Art Deco Weekend event, a celebration of its Art Deco heritage and history. Other notable tourist events attracting many outsiders to the region annually include F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic events, and the Mission Estate Concert at Mission Estate Winery in the suburb of Taradale . Napier has well-documented Māori history. When the Ngāti Kahungunu party of Taraia reached the district many centuries ago,
4018-569: The Whatumamoa, Rangitane, Ngāti Awa and elements of the Ngāti Tara iwi lived in the nearby areas of Petane, Te Whanganui-a-Orotu and Waiohiki. Ngāti Kahungunu later became the dominant force from Poverty Bay to Wellington. Chief Te Ahuriri cut a channel from the lagoon to the sea at Ahuriri because the Westshore entrance had become blocked, threatening cultivations surrounding the lagoon and
4100-422: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 7,893 (15.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 29,085 (55.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 13,293 (25.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 39,200, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 4,845 people (9.2%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
4182-411: The circumnavigation of New Zealand. The maps described the North Island as " Ea Heinom Auwe " and " Aeheinomowe ", which recognises the "Fish of Māui" element. Another Māori name that was given to the North Island, but is now used less commonly, is Aotearoa . Use of Aotearoa to describe the North Island fell out of favour in the early 20th century, and it is now a collective Māori name for New Zealand as
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#17327869525824264-451: The conclusion of the Otago gold rush in the 1860s, New Zealand's European population growth has experienced a steady 'Northern drift' as population centres in the North Island have grown faster than those of New Zealand's South Island. This population trend has continued into the twenty-first century, but at a much slower rate. While the North Island's population continues to grow faster than
4346-633: The country from the west, and the city lies in the rain shadow of the North Island Volcanic Plateau and surrounding ranges such as the Kaweka Range . Suburbs of Napier include: The Napier urban area, as defined by Statistics New Zealand , is coterminous with the Napier City territorial authority and covers 105.05 km (40.56 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 67,500 as of June 2024, with
4428-432: The creation" of that 1965-established institution. After immigrating to New Zealand, Domett filled several important administrative posts, Colonial Secretary for New Munster Province in 1848, and secretary for the colony in 1851. During his tenure, he urged "a legislative check to large, speculative land holdings". In February 1854, Domett took up the position of Commissioner of Crown lands and resident magistrate in
4510-519: The ensuing fires killed 256 people. Some 4000 hectares of today's Napier were undersea before the earthquake raised it above sea level. The earthquake uplifted an area of 1500 km with a maximum of 2.7 m of uplift. In Hastings, about 1 m of ground subsidence occurred. The centre of Napier, destroyed by the earthquake, was rebuilt in the Art Deco style popular in the 1930s. Although a few Art Deco buildings were replaced with contemporary structures in
4592-561: The first ten sessions of the General Legislative Council, A.D. 1841 to A.D. 1849 , which had required extensive sorting of ordinances from the 1840s. He was editor of the Nelson Examiner from c. 1843 to 1845 and was again editor, briefly, in 1857. He published a supplement to the paper concerning the Wairau Affray in 1843, and continued to write occasional contributions for that paper. Published in London
4674-458: The fishing villages on the islands in the lagoon. The rivers were continually feeding freshwater into the area. Ngāti Kahungunu were one of the first Māori tribes that European settlers had contact with. Captain James Cook and his crew were the first Europeans to see the future site of Napier when they sailed down the east coast in October 1769. He commented: "On each side of this bluff head
4756-660: The islands and linking the Cook Strait to the Tasman Sea . The North Island has an estimated population of 4,077,800 as of June 2024. The North Island had a population of 3,808,005 at the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 213,453 people (5.9%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 570,957 people (17.6%) since the 2013 census . Of the total population, 733,893 people (19.3%) were aged under 15 years, 743,154 (19.5%) were 15 to 29, 1,721,427 (45.2%) were 30 to 64, and 609,534 (16.0%) were 65 or older. Ever since
4838-622: The late 1990s and a referendum was held in 1999 proposing an amalgamation of the Hastings District Council with the Napier City Council. Although supported by approximately two-thirds of Hastings voters, Napier voters rejected the proposal by a similar number and the proposal was defeated. The National Government amended the Local Government Act in 2012 to determine a reorganisation proposal by
4920-543: The north and one to the south. There was a swamp between the now Hastings Street and Wellesley Road, and the sea extended to Clive Square. Napier was designated as a borough in 1874, but the development of the surrounding marshlands and reclamation proceeded slowly. Napier was the administrative centre for the Hawke's Bay Province from 1858 until the abolition of New Zealand's provincial governments in 1876. On 3 February 1931, most of Napier and nearby Hastings were levelled by an earthquake . The collapse of buildings and
5002-522: The outskirts of Napier. The 2013 gathering attracted 48 pilots and 120 planes. The largest industry in Napier and its environs is processing/manufacturing, the major products being food, textiles, wood, metal products and machinery/equipment. Other significant industries for the region include property/business services, rural production/rural services and retail. Napier was once home to one of New Zealand's largest smoking tobacco plants. On 9 September 2005 British American Tobacco announced it would close
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#17327869525825084-414: The past: O with reason and fancy unfettered and fearless, Come plunge with us deep into regions of Day—Come away—and away! – Decadent poet Ernest Dowson was his great-nephew. While Ranolf and Amohia has been the object of both critical scrutiny (chiefly for its prolixity), and post-colonialist analysis (of its 19th-century colonialist values), Domett's legacy in the literary history of New Zealand
5166-470: The plurality in the Auckland region (49.8%) and are the majority in the remaining 39 districts. The proportion of North Islanders born overseas at the 2018 census were 29.3%. The most common foreign countries of birth were England (15.4% of overseas-born residents), Mainland China (11.3%), India (10.1%), South Africa (5.9%), Australia (5.5%) and Samoa (5.3%). The North Island has a larger population than
5248-541: The poem Browning asks what has become of his friend, but believes he will achieve much in far-off lands: ...so I saw the last Of Waring! ... Oh, never star Was lost here but it rose afar! An account of the friendship between the two men appeared in The Contemporary Review for January 1905, by W. H. Griffin . Thereafter, with the approval of Browning's son, Frederick G. Kenyon edited correspondence between and relating to Browning and Domett, after
5330-469: The port of Napier undetected. This event became the basis of a widely circulated postwar tall tale that the captain of this U-boat , Heinrich Timm , had led crewmen ashore near Napier to milk cows to supplement their meagre rations. Napier was the scene of an armed attack by cannabis dealer Jan Molenaar on three police officers searching his home in May 2009. He killed one officer, and wounded two others and
5412-507: The sea would run through to Ahuriri. Furthermore, by virtue of its pre-1931 existence, the bulk of Napier is susceptible to soil liquefaction, the risk classed as Very High for the main urban area excluding the hill. Under the Köppen climate classification , Napier has an oceanic climate ( Cfb ). The climate is warm and relatively dry, resulting from its location on the east coast of the North Island. Most of New Zealand's weather patterns cross
5494-427: The sea. While he was not looking, his brothers fought over the fish and chopped it up. This great fish became the North Island, and thus a Māori name for the North Island is Te Ika-a-Māui ("The Fish of Māui"). The mountains and valleys are believed to have been formed as a result of Māui's brothers' hacking at the fish. During Captain James Cook 's voyage between 1769 and 1770 , Tahitian navigator Tupaia accompanied
5576-619: The selection of the collection and in its organisation and classification", laying foundations "for the successful development of that institution." Domett is, therefore, a founder not only of the General Assembly Library, but, also of the National Library of New Zealand . In 2008, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Margaret Wilson cited the role of the General Assembly Library "in
5658-477: The site of Napier) in 1851. In 1854 Alfred Domett , a future Prime Minister of New Zealand, was appointed as the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the resident magistrate at the village of Ahuriri. It was decided to place a planned town here, its streets and avenues were laid out, and the new town named for Sir Charles Napier , a military leader during the "Battle of Meeanee" fought in the country of Sindh , in
5740-413: The southeastern edge of Hawke Bay , a large semi-circular bay that dominates the east coast of New Zealand's North Island . The coastline of the city was substantially altered by a large earthquake in 1931 . About two thirds of Napier's land area is rural. The topography puts Napier in danger from a tsunami, as the centre of the commercial city is near sea level – should the sea ever crest Marine Parade,
5822-432: The sub-tropical flora and threatened inhabitants of countries such as New Zealand: And if weary of mists you will roam undisdaining To a land where the fanciful fountains are raining Swift brilliants of boiling and beautiful spray In the violet splendour of skies that illume Such a wealth of green ferns and rare crimson tree-bloom; Where a people primeval is vanishing fast, With its faiths and its fables and ways of
5904-570: The two cities and the surrounding towns of Havelock North and Clive having a combined population of 136,720. The City of Napier has a land area of 106 km (41 sq mi) and a population density of 540.0 per square kilometre. Napier is the nexus of the largest wool centre in the Southern Hemisphere, and it has the primary export seaport for northeastern New Zealand – which is the largest producer of apples, pears, and stone fruit in New Zealand. The Hawke's Bay wine region
5986-843: The university in 1833. Domett spent 1833 to 1835 travelling in the United States , Canada and the West Indies . Spending the winter of 1833 in Upper Canada , he gained some experience in surveying and conveyancing. Returning to England, he entered at the Middle Temple on 7 November 1835, and was called to the bar on 19 November 1841. Domett emigrated to Nelson, New Zealand , on the Sir Charles Forbes , departing Gravesend on 1 May 1842 and arriving in Nelson on 22 August with 187 settlers. The following year,
6068-488: The urban areas of Napier and Hastings, as well as many of the other outlying suburbs of the two cities. Some of the cycleways include dedicated cycling lanes on roads within the city, as well as separate dedicated pathways on roadsides and through parks and other areas, many of which are mixed use pathways for cyclists and pedestrians, such as the paths that stretch from Bay View to Clifton. The Hawke's Bay Trails contain over 200 km of cycleways that meander through and around
6150-602: Was a "Petition to Parliament for the recall of Governor Fitzroy, together with a Narrative of the Wairau Massacre. 8vo. 1844–46." Domett's experience of representing the wishes of local settlers in the aftermath of what is now called the Wairau Affray, made him a critic of the policies of Fitzroy, but his "masterly" petition is seen as an even greater criticism of local authorities. If his poetry has itself been criticised on literary grounds, Domett was, evidently,
6232-490: Was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 19 June 1866 until 3 July 1874, when his membership ceased as he had returned to the country of his birth for his final years. During his tenure in office, Domett brought about the moving of New Zealand's capital from Auckland to Wellington in 1865. In November 1863 he moved a resolution before Parliament that "it has become necessary that
6314-449: Was being undertaken elsewhere. As a result, Napier's architecture is strikingly different from any other city; the other notable Art Deco city, Miami Beach , has Streamline Moderne Art Deco. The whole centre of Napier was rebuilt simultaneously. Other tourist attractions in Napier include MTG Hawke's Bay (the museum, art gallery and theatre) which features information on both the 1931 earthquake and Napier's redesign as an Art Deco city,
6396-484: Was nominated as a World Heritage Site with UNESCO . This is the first cultural site in New Zealand to be so nominated. It was denied World Heritage status in 2011 as it did not meet the appropriate criteria. Still, the report of the application acknowledged the Art Deco heritage as "first and foremost of outstanding value to all New Zealanders". In January 1945, the German submarine U-862 entered and departed from
6478-547: Was published in 1832. Another book of poems, the "more technically proficient" Venice , appeared in 1839. Domett contributed poems to Blackwood's Magazine , one of which, A Christmas Hymn , attracted some attention locally. During the ten years he lived in London, he became the intimate friend of Robert Browning , of whose poem "Waring" he is the subject. In that poem, Browning expresses regret for Domett's sudden disappearance from London, and speaks of Domett with emotion: 'How much I loved him, I find out now I've lost him'. In
6560-556: Was spoken by 96.9%, Māori language by 5.7%, Samoan by 1.3% and other languages by 8.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.9, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian , 0.9% Hindu , 0.4% Islam , 2.7% Māori religious beliefs , 0.8% Buddhist , 0.5% New Age , 0.1% Jewish , and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.8%, and 6.9% of people did not answer
6642-495: Was that 25,656 (48.6%) people were employed full-time, 6,813 (12.9%) were part-time, and 1,452 (2.8%) were unemployed. Napier's major tourist attraction is its architecture, which draws Art Deco and architecture enthusiasts from around the world. The rebuilding period after the 1931 earthquake coincided with the short-lived and rapidly changing Art Deco era and the Great Depression , when little "mainstreet" development
6724-407: Was the founding of a library of exceptional scope. Domett's involvement in the founding of the General Assembly Library cannot be overestimated. William Gisborne, who later (1881) favoured widening access to non-parliamentarians, described him as the 'father' of the library. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand emphasises his importance in establishing one of the finest libraries of its time, "both in
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