Test of Time

Monday, March 12, was Taranaki Anniversary Day thus granting me another long weekend and the opportunity to explore a new part of the country. This time I picked Napier, in a region known as Hawke’s Bay, on the eastern shore of the North Island. An up and coming wine region, it’s also well known for its fruit and vegetable orchards. Jason and I sampled, and purchased, many a bag of fruit from the renowned Sunday Farmer’s Market before setting off to sample the local vineyards and tour the “farmgates” selling everything from locally produced cheese, fruit, vegetables, sauces, and chocolates. After “suffering” through a three course culinary luncheon experience sitting on the deck of one of the local wineries in sweltering 28 degree Celsius weather, we did manage to climb to the top of Te Mata Peak, a local favorite with the athletically inclined. Hey, we had to do something to make up for ingesting all those extra calories.

Napier, however, has gained most of its recognition as being the “Art Deco City” of New Zealand. Due to a devastating earthquake, magnitude 7.8 on the Richter Scale, on February 3, 1931 all but one building in the township of Napier was destroyed. Rebuilding itself in just two short years, all the buildings were designed in the architectural style of the day, Art Deco. The town offers a wonderful display of Art Deco architecture with a little Spanish Mission style thrown into the mix. Taking the guided tour, Jason and I were amazed at the extent to which this style has persisted. Much to the credit of the Art Deco Trust, established in 1985, the style has carried through to much of the modern development, such that companies willing to build using plans generated by the Trust architects to compliment the original Art Deco architecture will receive government subsidies to build. Not a bad way to guarantee uniformity and preservation of a unique style. Good on ya.