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		Napier has a well-established Māori history with Ngāti Kahungunu being the dominant iwi in the area, and one of the first tribes to encounter European settlers. The area was first sighted by Europeans in 1769. Traders, whalers, and missionaries visited, and permanent settlement began after 1854. Over the 60 years after it was established as a borough in 1874, Napier steadily developed, mainly due to expanding activity at the port and developing the surrounding rural land. Napier’s world-renowned collection of Art Deco buildings owes its existence to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the Hawke’s Bay region in February 1931, killing 256 and injuring thousands more. It remains New Zealand’s deadliest natural disaster. The earthquake struck at 10.47am on 3 February 1931 lasted about a minute. After approximately thirty seconds, a second earthquake occurred also lasting about a minute. Such was the strength of the earthquake, large trees touched the ground and it was impossible for people to stand. The devastation to buildings was widespread and loss of life significant, particularly after fires broke out preventing rescuers from reaching those trapped in collapsed buildings. While no official evacuation order was ever issued, up to 90% of Napier’s 16,000 population temporarily left the city, with many billeted all over the lower North Island. Thoughts soon returned to the rebuild of the Napier CBD. What resulted was a mix of styles, with Art Deco being the predominant, along with Spanish Mission, Stripped Classical and Classical Moderne.		The main reason why Art Deco was chosen was because it was fashionable and Napier wanted to be modern. Originating in Europe and most popular from 1920 to 1940, the Art Deco style was at its peak popularity for buildings in the early 1930s. Decorative themes include sunbursts and fountains, skyscraper shapes, symbols of speed, power and flight, geometric shapes and ancient cultures. Hastings also has a number of buildings in the same Art Deco style. Nearly all of the city's new buildings were designed by local architects. A co-operative group called the Associated Architects of Napier was formed to get construction quickly underway. Its members were J. A. Louis Hay, E.A. Williams, C.T. Natusch and sons, and Finch and Westerholme. In the spirit of co-operation fostered by this Association, the architects attempted to relate the appearance of all the new buildings to one another. Most buildings erected following the earthquake were designed in what can very broadly be described as the Art Deco style. This style had been popularised in 1925 at the International Exposition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, held in Paris. Art Deco was considered to be a very 'modern' style, well suited to the image that Napier wanted to project as a city. For these reasons, Art Deco buildings found favour with both architects and the public. A number of buildings erected after the earthquake were not Art Deco at all, the 'Spanish Mission' style being a popular alternative. They add a Mediterranean flavour to the city well suited to the sunny climate, and they relate well to their Art Deco neighbours. Following World War II, further industrial development was encouraged in Napier. The city’s progress has been heavily dependent on the success of farming, horticulture, forestry, wine making, processing, and tourist attractions in the surrounding area. Enhanced by palms and the angular Norfolk Island pines which are its trademark, and surrounded by fertile fruit and grape growing plains, dramatic hills and the shores of the South Pacific, beautiful Napier is the centre of Hawke’s Bay, recently named a World’s Great Wine Capitals.