Napier (pop. 62,241) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand. Napier’s main exports are apples and pears, wood pulp, meat, and lumber. It is also an important fishing center. Factories in the area include woolen mills, fertilizer works, freezing works, foundries, breweries, and home appliance factories. Napier has a cathedral, an art gallery, and a museum. The main feature of the city is the Marine Parade, a public promenade that extends for about 2 miles (3 kilometers) and is lined with Norfolk Island pines.
On Feb. 3, 1931, an earthquake destroyed the inner city. The city was rebuilt rapidly, and today, Napier has a unique concentration of buildings dating from the 1930’s. The earthquake raised more than 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) of land that had been lagoon and swamp. This additional land allowed Napier to expand.
