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Story: Historic earthquakes

Celebrating reconstruction

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Celebrating reconstruction

Life was disrupted for over two years as central Napier was rebuilt, but in early 1933 a parade was held to celebrate the re-opening of the shopping precinct. The art deco style of the 1930s influenced the architecture, which was much simpler. Ornate – and dangerous – parapets and facades had disappeared, but all shops had verandahs to provide shelter from the weather.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PAColl-5927-15

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Historic earthquakes – Rebuilding Napier, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4577/celebrating-reconstruction (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 November 2017.