Explore Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay was named by Captain James Cook in honour of Admiral Edward Hawke who defeated the French at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759. With main cities Hasting (74,000) and Napier (60,000), Hawke’s Bay has an overall population of just over 150,000. Napier’s iconic buildings date back to the 1930s, when the city was entirely rebuilt in the then popular Art Deco and Spanish Mission architectural styles, following a major earthquake in 1931. Much of the local tourism is based on wine tours, but also on this Art Deco heritage, which is celebrated each year in February at the Art Deco Weekend. Other events include Harvest Hawke’s Bay, which celebrates the regions’ wines annually, or Mission concert, an event held at one of the country’s largest and oldest winery, Mission Estate.