Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay

Art Deco style

Hawke’s Bay suffered a massive earthquake in 1931 that destroyed the twin cities of Napier and Hastings. Entirely rebuilt in two years in the distinctive 1930s style, Napier has one of the highest concentrations of Art Deco architecture in the world and a colourful heritage story to tell.

Hawke’s Bay was at the origin of New Zealand’s wine industry, and is now the second largest wine producing region. With more than 30 award-winning vineyards, the region has achieved world-wide recognition for its quality red wine.

Māori Culture

Heretaunga (the original Māori name for Hawke’s Bay) is home to several Māori iwi (tribes) including Ngati Hineuru, Ngati Kahungunu, Rangitane, Ngati Kere, Whatuiapiti and Taiwhenua o Tamatea.

The tribes settled river valleys and coastline where food was plentiful, and the names of many landmarks and places recall stories from the past.

According to legend, Te Mata Peak and the hills south to Kahurānaki (near Havelock North) are formed by the body of Māori chief.

Te Mata o Rongokako was a giant of a man who fell in love with another chief’s beautiful daughter. In an attempt to dissuade his daughter's suitor from the romance, the father set a series of difficult tasks that Te Mata o Rongokako accomplished one-by-one. On the final task - eating his way through a hill - he choked on a rock and fell dead on the spot.

Food and Wine

A premier New Zealand food and wine region, Hawke’s Bay is a foody’s heaven stocked with fine wine, fresh produce and gourmet dining destinations.

The Hawke's Bay wine region covers several sub regions, each known for particular wine styles including Gimblett Road, the Triangle, Te Mata, Ngatarawa, Esk River and Maraekakaho. Hawke’s Bay is best known for award-winning reds (merlot and cabernet sauvignon), but white varieties such as chardonnay are also receiving recognition.

With 42 of 70-plus vineyards offering cellar door experiences, there are many opportunities to enjoy Hawke’s Bay wine in either heritage or ultra modern surroundings. Many wineries have restaurants or alfresco dining, while vineyard cycle tours take advantage of a relatively flat landscape and pleasant climate.

Regional food highlights - a wide variety of fresh produce and artisan products - feature on the food trail. The easily navigated gate-to-gate trail takes visitors to meet producers and sample local flavours.

Hawke’s Bay farmers' markets sell local food and produce. On Saturdays in Napier and Sundays in Hastings, shoppers can buy fresh produce and delicacies direct from growers and producers.

Luxury

A reputation for fine wine, gourmet food and high sunshine hours makes the Hawke’s Bay region a luxury getaway destination.

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers - an award winning luxury lodge with a world-class golf course on a 6,000 acre sheep and cattle farm - was voted 'world’s best' by the Daily Telegraph (UK) readers in 2008.

Some vineyards offer private boutique accommodation in the vines, and there’s a growing list of private lodges and boutique cottages for rent.

Early morning hot air balloon flights cross the patchwork fields of orchards, vineyards, farms, and wide open spaces fringed by mountains and sea. Private helicopters fly to vineyards for exclusive lunch and wine tasting sessions, or into remote spots for wilderness adventures like trout fishing and rafting.

Art and Culture

Napier - Art Deco capital of the southern hemisphere - has the most Art Deco architecture outside of Miami. Rebuilt following the devastating 1931 earthquake and in the height of the Art Deco era, Napier has a huge variety and concentration of Art Deco buildings.

Each February, thousands of people converge on Napier for Art Deco Weekend - a lively celebration of Art Deco architecture and culture.

Year-round daily Art Deco walking tours in the city centre show visitors the unique 1930s architecture and tell Napier’s story. Vintage car tours visit other famous Art Deco landmarks beyond the city centre.

Hawke’s Bay has a community of internationally and nationally recognised artists who display their work in home studios and galleries. An art guide covers 50 galleries and studios where visitors can meet artists in their creative environment and discover New Zealand art.

DID YOU KNOW

• Hawke’s Bay has the world's second longest place name: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukaka-pikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
• Napier has one of the world's highest concentrations of Art Deco architecture.
• Napier boasts one of only two McDeco McDonald’s in the world.
• Dinosaur remains discovered in Hawke’s Bay in 1975 proved that land dinosaurs had lived in New Zealand.