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Story: Hawke’s Bay places

The newest city

Video file

The 1931 earthquake was a disaster for Napier because it resulted in serious loss of life and property. But, as this film clip from 1950 shows, it allowed the previously water-bound town to grow – the inner harbour was lifted above sea level and was soon built upon.

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Archives New Zealand – Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Weekly Review 442. National Film Unit, 1950

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Hawke’s Bay places – Napier, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/24201/the-newest-city (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 19 August 2009, updated 30 November 2015.