having a spiffing time

Swellegant Napier

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February 18th 2007
Without a doubt (and not wholly unexpectedly) the absolute highlight of my time here in NZ was going to the Art Deco Weekend in Napier. The city of Napier (on the sunny east coast, I'd call it the kiwi riviera) was nearly completely destroyed in 1931 after an earthquake, so it was basically rebuilt from scratch. This results in one of the densest concentrations of magnificent art deco architectur ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier

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The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year... ... read more