Marine Parade

                                                                                                                                                              Tom Parker Fountain

The Napier on Parade pass is a great way to enjoy four top family attractions at a discounted price.
The National Aquarium of New Zealand, Marineland of New Zealand, Par 2 Marine Parade Minigolf and Ocean Spa have joined forces to give you this great opportunity.
All the activities can be visited in one day, as they are all within walking distance of each other, however we recommend you use your pass over two days or more.
Tickets are available for pre-purchase online. You can also purchase your Napier on Parade pass when you arrive in Hawke’s Bay from any of the four attractions or from Hastings, Napier or Havelock North information centres.
NATIONAL AQUARIUM OF NEW ZEALAND
The National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier is as close to the ocean as you can be to the water’s edge without getting your feet wet, and is within easy walking distance from the centre of the city.
The magnificent architectural design imitates the form of a stingray, in a unique position on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. This aquarium has a wider range of species than any other similar facility in New Zealand.
There is a reef tank, a travelator which spirals its way beneath the enormous oceanarium, creating the impression of a true underwater experience, and a typical New Zealand rocky shore environment.
There are sharks, stingray and hundreds of fish species, many of them representative of the catches from along the East Coast. There are eels, trout, sea horse, turtles, tropical marine fish, kiwi, tuatara, water dragons, native frogs and crocodile also on display.
Feeding times are 10am and 2pm

* Dive in the Oceanarium    * Behind the Scenes Tours
* Free Guided Tours         * Sleepovers
* Birthday Parties          * Function Facilities
* School Groups             * Underwater Weddings
* Gift Shop                 * Disability Access
National Aquarium 546 Marine Parade, Napier
Open 9am 5pm, 7 days, 364 days per year
(closed Christmas Day)
Ph                      +64 6 834 1404          
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Website: www.nationalaquarium.co.nz

MARINELAND OF NEW ZEALAND
Napier’s Marineland is New Zealand’s only marine zoo and wildlife centre, featuring several species of native marine wildlife, including the New Zealand fur seal, the Leopard seal, Little Blue penguin, gannets and cormorants. As well, Marineland features California sea lions.
Show times are 10.30am and 2pm daily. Take a around the grounds to view the playful sea lions and other animals.
*Penguin Recovery Workshop
* Marine Animal Encounter
* Behind the Scenes Tour
Marineland: 90 Marine Parade, Napier
Open 10am 4.30pm, 7 days, 364 days per year
(closed Christmas Day)
Phone:                      64 6 834 4027          
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Website: www.marineland.co.nz
PAR 2 MARINE PARADE MINIGOLF
Play golf beside the sea.
Choose from two 18 hole games.
Great for groups, couples or families. Play together have fun. (Extended summer evening hours).
Par 2 Marine Parade Minigolf - Marine Parade
Open 9.30am 4.30pm, 7 days, 364 days per year
(closed Christmas Day)
Extended summer hours
Ph                      +64 6 834 0248          
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.par2golf.co.nz
OCEAN SPA
All year round heated pool complex with sea views. Outdoor spas,  lap/active/passive/toddlers pools. Steam/sauna rooms, sunbeds and massage. Soak café  restaurant on site
Ocean Spa - 42 Marine Parade Napier
Open 7 days, 364 days per year
(closed Christmas Day)
6am 10pm Mon-Sat
8am 10pm Sun and Public Holidays
Ph                      +64 6 835 8553          
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Napier War Memorial Conference Centre is located on the beach of Napier's famous Marine Parade, offering an all purpose built venue that uniquely combines spectacular outlooks with functional layout. Walking distance to the famous Art Deco City Centre.

If you are looking for high standards of presentation, well located amenities, a full range of support services, ample seating capacities and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, then Napier's War Memorial Conference Centre is the function centre for you.
Sunken Gardens
One of the 1930's Marine Parade attractions had been the bitumen surfaced tennis courts south of the Soundshell. These were made redundant by the opening of the Onekawa Tennis Courts in 1966. In April 1967 a start was made on excavating the 30,000 cubic yard hole for the Sunken Gardens. Many interesting finds were made in the excavated earthquake rubble with reminders of long gone cafes, hotels and manufacturers, along with various objects and fittings.
The Gardens were opened in 1969 by Sir Lew Harris, who gave a generous donation in the form of the floating 'bio-morphic sculpture' in the pool.
Floral Clock
In February 1954 Mr and Mrs A B Hurst offered to donate a floral clock to the city, with the stipulation that it be sited on the Marine Parade.
It was duly installed on a purpose built site in front of the War Memorial Hall. To afford protection from salt laden winds off the sea it was placed on a sloping bank, facing towards the Marine Parade footpath, half raised and half sunken, in relation to the adjacent lawns and gardens.
The large hand is 3.4metres long, with a sweep of 2.75metres, and the small hand is 2.72 metres long.

The clock was formally dedicated in December 1955. The clock was re-positioned to its present site in 1995 as a consequence of alterations to the approach forecourt of the War Memorial Hall. To reduce damage from vandalism the clock automatically turns off at 6.30pm and restarts at 6.30am.
Bio-Morphic Sculpture
The sculpture was created by Laurie Karasek of the Ilam School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury. He described it as a bio-morphic form, floating like a giant water lily. As first installed it had internal and external underwater lighting with random sequencing which produced fascinating effects after dusk. Persistent vandalism and theft led to the removal of the lighting system.
Sculpture
The sculpture was chosen from entries in a public competition, and was paid for by a generous gift from Sir Lewis and Lady Harris of Brooklands Station, Hawke's Bay.

Coast Defence Boxes
After the entry of Japan into the Second World War the New Zealand government considered it likely that New Zealand might be invaded.
In 1942, Hawke's Bay coastal defences were strengthened with a 6 inch gun battery placed atop Bluff Hill and concrete strong points (commonly known as Pill Boxes) were built along beaches north and south of Napier.
A good example of a Pill Box is to be found at the Beacons Reserve four kilometres north of the entrance to the Inner Harbour. There are others at Whakarire Avenue and at points on the beach domain south of the city.
 

Kirk Sundial
Marble, Bronze and Limestone
Inscriptions:
The gift of J R Kirk Esq MBE 1933 calamity is Man's True Touchstone Serene I stand amidst the flowers to tell the passing of the hours.
The Sundial was the gift of J R Kirk a former mayor of Gisborne who was struck by the spirit of rehabilitation following the earthquake of 1931.

Millennial Arch
Inscription:
Ecliptic - Artist David Trubridge placed here by the Napier City Council Millennium Sub-committee to mark the beginning of the third millennium.
To find the point where the sun rose at the start of the millennium, follow a line from a rock through the centre of the arch to the horizon.
The memorial
The memorial was designed by prominent Napier architect J A Louis Hay.
The memorial area contains the remains of 100 people who perished in the Hawke's Bay Earthquake of 3 February 1931. The tablets on the memorial record the names of 86 of those interred in the mass grave plus the names of 23 others buried elsewhere in the cemetery.
Inscriptions:
Their sun is gone down while it was yet day
HMNZS Tui Anchor
Inscription:
This anchor, from the former oceanographic research vessel HMNZS Tui, was presented to the City of Napier by the Royal New Zealand Navy on 29 September 1999.
Napier was the ship's adopted homeport during its service with the RNZN, 1970-1997.

Percy Spiller Memorial
Inscription:
This stone was laid by S Percy Spiller. As a tribute to the effort of the public of Napier in raising patriotic funds through the Napier Fun Session Committee during the war period 1939-1945 26 December 1947
The original memorial took the form of a double-sided, seating shelter of re-inforced concrete. The seats faced north and south and when first erected afforded views onto the putting green and the asphalt tennis courts. The tennis courts disappeared in 1967 to make way for the Sunken Garden.
 

The shelter was demolished in 1999, however the original memorial plaque has been retained.
Swan Memorial
A limestone wall supporting a tiled roof shelter.
Erected in 1917. It acted as a shelter for the then adjacent paddling pool. The pool was claimed to be the first of it's kind in New Zealand. The pool, and the memorial, with its bronze bust of G H Swan who had been a promoter of Marine Parade development, was dedicated in February 1918.
Inscriptions: GH Swan Mayor 1885-1901 Swan Memorial 1917
 

Swan Memorial Lamp
Cast Iron Lamp Standard
Inscription:
One of nine gas lamp posts converted to carbon arc in 1915 by the Napier Thirty Thousand Club. Refurbished and relocated in 1982 from a site near the War Memorial Hall. The present lantern is a 1950 style 250 watt mercury vapour which is slightly smaller than the original lantern.
The nine arc lights were set along the Marine Parade between the Borough Council offices on the corner of Tennyson Street, and the Marine Parade baths. The lights were a memorial to the work of George H Swan, Mayor of Napier, 1885-1901, who did much to promote the development of the Marine Parade.
 

Veronica Sunbay
The Sunbay consists of a curved arcade with a pierced wall of unglazed windows on the seaward side and grouped columns on the landside.
The structure was built in 1934 and in 1937 was named the ‘Veronica Sunbay’ when the bell from HMS Veronica was presented to the city as a memento of the assistance rendered by the crew of HMS Veronica in rescue work in the aftermath of the 1931 earthquake.
 

By 1988 the steel reinforcing of the original structure was badly corroded and unsafe. It was demolished and replaced with a replica in 1991. The Veronica bell is now housed in the Hawke's Bay Museum.
Inscriptions:
The Veronica Sun Bay Originally erected in 1934 to commemorate the Hawke's Bay earthquake of 3rd February 1931, this memorial is named in honour of HMS Veronica and the outstanding service given by her officers and crew at the time of the disaster. Rebuilding of the Sun Bay was accomplished through the initiative and leadership of the Rotary Club of Napier and contributions from the citizens of Hawke's Bay and the Napier City Council. This plaque was unveiled at the dedication of the rebuilt memorial, which took place on the Sixtieth Anniversary of the earthquake - 3rd February 1991.
Colonnades
Inscriptions:
Harold Latham Arch New Napier Arch Courage is the thing, all goes if courage goes The Colonnade & Sound Shell presented by The Napier Thirty-Thousand Club Inc. J T Watson. F I A A Architect Napier
Robert C Wright Arch
The Colonnades and arches were erected in 1937 to form an enclosure in front of the Sound Shell.

The landscape group of, Soundshell, Colonnades, Veronica Sunbay, Skating Rink and the gardens form the only public memorial commemorating the 1931 earthquake, in Napier. It is entirely fitting that these structures are built above a foundation of rubble removed from the devastated town centre and deposited on the beach in 1931/32.
Marine Parade Gardens
The story of these gardens begins with the need to keep the sea from over-topping the beach and running down into the town.
In 1887-88 a new permanent sea wall was built to replace an unsatisfactory wooden one. The 'new' wall is still there today. (The low round-topped wall dividing the gardens from the Marine Parade footpath and road way).
Prior to the 1931 earthquake the shingle beach came right up to the wall.
The tectonic plate movement which caused the earthquake raised the beachfront up by two metres resulting in a greatly enlarged area of shingle above high tide level.

Buried City
Mr J S Barton, the Government Commissioner appointed to oversee the restoration of Napier, asked Charles Corner, the superintendent of Parks and Reserves, if the rubble from the Central City could be used in beach reclamation. When Mr Corner replied, "Yes" the Commissioner said, "Get on with the job. If I am not satisfied I will let you know". He must have been satisfied because a stretch of beach from the current Marine Parade Saltwater Baths down to the Marine Parade Children's Playground, (south of Marineland), was levelled using horse drawn scoops and the rubble of the pre-quake city was tipped and covered with clay and soil.
Development 1932-1939
Promoters of Napier as a tourist attraction, long had visions of a line of 'promenade gardens' in the European style, and the way was now open for the realisation of these dreams. This was the time of the Depression and money was scarce, but government subsidised work relief provided labour for a public improvement such as this.
Retaining walls along the beach enabled the gardens and lawns to occupy a long, raised terrace terminating at the southern end in the Soundshell, with its associated arches.
In 1936 a substantial concrete sea wall with a walkway on the top was built from the Soundshell south to Raffles Street. The way in which the beach has since built up can be seen if you stand by the 'Tui' anchor, mounted on the walkway near the Sunken Garden. In 1938, you needed to descend a flight of eleven concrete steps to get from the walkway onto the beach.
30,000 Club
The 30,000 Club was formed in 1913 with the aim of promoting the population of Napier up to 30,000. This club was a group of volunteers who over 62 years ran promotional events, raised funds and financially supported improvements to the city. They played an important role in the development of the Soundshell, Skating Rink, and Colonnade. (Later known as the Veronica Sun Bay). Tom Parker, a 30,000 Club member, donated the Tom Parker Fountain (with its ever changing water feature and colourful display of lights), while another member, AB Hurst and his wife, donated the Floral Clock. In 1954 the club donated the 'Pania of the Reef' sculpture, which is located just to the south of the Tom Parker fountain. In 2005 this statue made headline news when someone stole it from its rock base. The statue was recovered two weeks later and re-set, in a much more secure fashion, onto its original base.
Soundshell Stage and Forecourt
Location:
Napier foreshore st top of Emerson Street, Napier.
Stage area free of charge to non-profit organisations. Backstage access and power available for a small charge.
Amplified events are allowed to operate for a maximum of five hours at an acceptable noise level and must finish at 10pm.