History

Captain James Cook and the crew of the HMS Endeavour were probably the first Europeans (known by Maori as Pakeha) to set eyes upon Hawke's Bay in October 1769. Cook named the bay after Sir Edward Hawke, First Lord of the Admiralty. The arrival of Pâkehâ, who traded muskets with Mâori, had a noticeable effect on Ngâti Kahungunu from the 1820s. Ngâti Kahungunu ki Wairoa came under attack from the musket-bearing tribes of Ngâ Puhi, Hauraki, Waikato, Te Whakatôhea and Tûhoe, in about 1822. Two years later Te Wera Hauraki of Ngâ Puhi established himself at Mâhia and became a protector of its people.   Ngâti Kahungunu are New Zealand’s third largest tribal group. Stretching down the east coast of the North Island from the Mâhia Peninsula to Cape Palliser, Hawke's Bay Province was founded in 1858.after being separated from the Wellington Province following a meeting in Napier in February 1858.

The province was abolished in 1876 along with all other provinces in New Zealand. It was replaced by a provincial district. On February 3 1931, Napier and Hastings were devastated following New Zealand's worst natural disaster. An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale killed 256 people. When rebuilding work begin in Napier  it was in the Art Deco style that was fashionable at the time and now the city is world famous for its buildings and celebrates its heritage each February with the Art Deco Weekend. An exhibition on the earthquake, its causes and impact, at the Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery is a popular destination for visitors. Hawkes Bay’s wine industry was spawned when missionaries in the mid-19th century first planted vines and the region, famous for its chardonnay, is now becoming recognised for its full-bodied red wines.

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