“Napier’s Forgotten Building.” Text Of A Commentary Written By Denis Pilkington That Was Published In The Hawkes Bay Today. (Under the Heading Of “Precious old buildings worth keeping. 10.05.2017)

  Napier’s Forgotten Building.

Mayor Bill Dalton has revealed a proposal being explored by the Napier City Council to build a new “Memorial Library” in Clive Square.

In order for this plan to be brought to fruition, Mr Dalton says it would be necessary to demolish the former Mothers’ Rest building (Community Centre). Mr Dalton also suggests that a new library on that site could house the Eternal Flame and plaques listing those who gave their lives in World War II,  that have been removed from the renovated and extended Napier Conference Centre on the Marine Parade.

These proposals overlook the fact that the former Mothers’ Rest building has an important history of its own and, for this reason, is listed on the Council’s District Plan as a heritage building.  Not only was it built in 1925 as a memorial to the citizens of Napier who gave their lives in the First World War, it is also a landmark building as part of women’s social history in New Zealand.  (more…)

Seismic Considerations for the Art Deco Interwar Reinforced Concrete Buildings of Napier, New Zealand By Kevin Q Walsh, Kenneth J Elwood, and Jason M Ingham Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland February 2015)

Seismic Considerations for the Art Deco Interwar Reinforced Concrete Buildings of Napier, New Zealand
Kevin Q Walsh, Kenneth J Elwood, and Jason M Ingham Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland February 2015

You can download a copy of the report at the following link:

Seismic Considerations for the Art Deco Interwar Reinforced Concrete Buildings of Napier, New Zealand

This is a copy of the report referenced in the Historic Places Hawkes Bay Newsletter article :
“ART DECO BUILDINGS: EARTHQUAKE PRONE OR EARTH QUAKE PROOF?”

Read Our Latest Newsletter, April 2016

Hawke’s Bay History On Film at the Century Theatre

Historic Places Hawke's Bay, MTG and Nga Taonga Sound & Vision are putting on a film show at the Century Theatre in Napier on Sunday 19th June 2016.  the programme includes a variety of items from the 20th century history of Hawke's Bay.  the running time is 70 minutes.

We look forward to seeing you at the show.

HB on Film poster