Art escape

View the Seawalls street art, a project created to help bring the beauty and the plight of the world’s oceans into streets around the globe via art and activism. “Seawalls project took place in two stages: the first, in March 2016, saw national and international artists transform 29 blank walls in the CBD and Ahuriri.

Their work poignantly addressed such issues as over-fishing, plastics and pollution, global climate change and have an iconic feature of the city, bringing the immensity and fragility of the world’s oceans onto our streets – and into our minds.” Napier City Council statement Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans.

VISIT DURATION: 2 – 3 HOURS

ART DECO BUILDING

Buildings destroyed by the earthquake were rebuilt in Art Deco style architecture.

• The original Taradale Town Hall was destroyed in the Napier earthquake. The Town Board raised a £2500 loan for the rebuilding of the Hall. The re-opening was held over 3 days starting on the 27th July 1932 when the new hall, built in the new Art Deco style, was officially opened by W. E. Barnard M.P. concluded on the Friday with a grand ball.
• Check out the current National Bank building and the square art deco clock on the top of the building
• Criterion Art Deco Backpackers is Hawkes Bay premier hostel. The Criterion is Napier’s largest Spanish Mission / Art Deco style building. Built as a luxury hotel in 1932 and it is one of the most photographed Art Deco buildings in Napier. The Criterion continues to offer accommodation to backpackers.
• Taradale Hotel is now a Macdonalds. The only Macdonalds located in a heritage art deco building.
• The Taradale and Districts Soldiers’ Memorial, survived the earthquake and is still in it’s original location just down the road from our motel location on Gloucester Street. The memorial was completed in 1923 after a £9,000 loan was approved. The loan also paid for the widening of Gloucester Street, the construction of a women’s rest, and the purchase of Taradale Park

VISIT DURATION: 1 – 2 hours