Latest Promotions
Exhibitions
Our exhibitions are drawn primarily from the Hawke's Bay Museum's Trust collection. Permanent exhibits on the 1931 earthquake and the region’s stunning Taonga Māori are supported by changing exhibitions in seven additional gallery spaces.
January 2019
Nyree Dawn Porter - From Local Stage to Global Stardom
As a teenager in the 1950s, Nyree Dawn Porter inspired her ballet students by painting graceful dancers directly onto the living room walls of her family’s Napier home, where she held lessons.
Now you can follow Nyree’s journey to international success in theatre, film and television when...
Date: Thursday 24 January to Sunday 27 January
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - Nyree Dawn Porter - From Local Stage to Global Stardom
George Nuku: Bottled Ocean 2118
Imagine the world in the year 2118, a world covered in endless ocean and populated by new forms of marine life that adapt in response to the proliferation of plastic.
This is the strange and beautiful world conjured within artist George Nuku’s ‘Bottled Ocean’ exhibition, created in...
Date: Thursday 24 January to Sunday 3 March
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
The House of Webb
The House of Webb: a Victorian family's journey to Ormondville.
Follow the unusual journey of the Webb family as they leave their comfortable lifestyle in England and set out for New Zealand in 1884.
As a group of 14, they voyaged on board a vermin-infested ship to Napier, then onwards to...
Date: Thursday 24 January to Sunday 28 April
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
The Architectural Legacy of J.A Louis Hay
“Every so often, in a distant place, there comes into existence someone with individuality and refined genius. They live their life, not in a great city, at the centre of power. Instead in a quiet town… they choose to do their work: to solve problems with imagination, to create buildings of...
Date: Thursday 24 January to Sunday 4 August
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake
“The outline of the hill turned into a giant serpent as it heaved up and down. The shock wave swept across it, creating a monster crossing the skyline.” - NG Bailey
At 10:47am on 3 February 1931, a devastating earthquake struck Hawke’s Bay. In that moment it seemed the end of the world had...
Date: Thursday 24 January to Wednesday 1 January
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Tēnei Tonu Exhibition
This stunning exhibition features a broad range of historic and contemporary taonga from the collection of the Hawke's Bay Museums Trust, Ruawharo Ta-u-rangi.
Translated as 'always here', Tēnei Tonu shares diverse stories of local Iwi Ngati Kahungunu and their enduring connection to the...
Date: Thursday 24 January to Wednesday 1 January
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Napier Hill Cemetery Tours
Discover tales of tragedy and bravery as the tour winds its way through the historic cemetery guided by MTG’s Curator of Social History Gail Pope.
What to bring: Sturdy walking shoes, sun hat, sunscreen and bottled water.
Allow 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours for the walk.
Tickets: $15 per person...
Date: Sunday 27 January to Sunday 24 March
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Summer Holiday Programme - Animation & Virtual Reality
Summer holiday fun at the MTG - Animation & Virtual Reality (Age 7 - 12)
Learn how to create an animation! Please bring a USB Flash Drive with you so you can take your animation home to share with the family.
Try out a virtual reality experience for some added digital fun!
Cost: $15.00*...
Date: Tuesday 29 January
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - Summer Holiday Programme - Animation & Virtual Reality
Measure & Draw: Architecture Plans & Drawings
In conjunction with the J. A. Louis Hay exhibition, come and enjoy other examples of architectural artistry in our collection. Explore detailed design plans and paintings of private homes, commercial buildings and public places. Learn more about Hay’s dedicated draughtswoman Thelma Williamson,...
Date: Tuesday 29 January
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Summer Holiday Programme - Upcycle In Plastic
Summer holiday fun at the MTG - Upcycle in plastic (Age 5 - 12)
Visit the George Nuku: Bottled Ocean 2118 exhibition to see how he uses recycled plastic to make his artwork. Get inspired and make your own undersea creature and bird feeder to take home with you.
Please bring 2 x recycled,...
Date: Wednesday 30 January
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Don Pasquale
From the creative team who brought you 2018's wild and wacky “The Marriage of Figaro” comes Wanderlust Opera’s lastest offering “Don Pasquale”.
In this comic opera by bel canto master Donizetti, a miserly bachelor gets more than he bargained for when he enters into an arranged...
Date: Wednesday 30 January
Where: MTG Century Theatre, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
February 2019
Exhibition Tour With Curator Gail Pope
Join exhibition curator Gail Pope on a tour of our recently opened exhibition House of Webb: A Victorian Family’s Journey to Ormondville.
Gail will give you a wonderful insight into the journey of the Webb family as they leave their comfortable lifestyle in England and set out for New Zealand...
Date: Tuesday 5 February to Tuesday 5 March
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
House of Webb - Twilight Art Classes
Explore various mediums used by the Webb family throughout their journeys, taught by experienced educators and professional artists in a unique setting.
Develop your art skills and find your own style during these two-hour twilight sessions at the museum.
6 November 2018 - Sketching
4...
Date: Tuesday 5 February to Tuesday 5 March
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
The Architectural Legacy of J.A.Louis Hay - ADF19
Louis Hay set up his architectural practice in the beautiful seaside town of Napier. There he stamped his mark with a range of buildings, embracing current international architectural innovations, particularly assimilating the modernist style of American Frank Lloyd Wright.
After the...
Date: Wednesday 13 February to Sunday 17 February
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - The Architectural Legacy of J.A.Louis Hay - ADF19
The Kings of Swing - HB Jazz Club Big Band Concert - ADF19
Big bands and swing music dominated the musical sounds of the Art Deco era, and many influential writers and performers surfaced during this time.
This concert with the HB Jazz Club Big Band will take you back to the hits of Basie, Miller, Sinatra, Ellington, Porter, Simone and many more....
Date: Wednesday 13 February
Where: MTG Century Theatre, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - The Kings of Swing - HB Jazz Club Big Band Concert - ADF19
Napier's Marine Parade 1957 to 2017 - ADF19
Following on from his outstanding 2018 talk about Post 1931 Marine Parade, renowned Art Deco historian Michael Fowler will explore the developments since 1957 on the Parade and reveal how one of its Art Deco treasures was nearly demolished.
Michael’s 50 minute talk will discuss how after the...
Date: Thursday 14 February
Where: MTG Century Theatre, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake Exhibition Guided Tour - ADF19
Discover highlights and hidden stories through our 1 hour, free guided tour of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Gallery.
Tours will be run daily at 11am & 2pm Thursday to Saturday during Art Deco Festival. Learn about the experiences of four survivors in the 'Survivor Stories’ Earthquake...
Date: Thursday 14 February to Saturday 16 February
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake Exhibition Guided Tour - ADF19
Soothe Me - Debbie Harwood In Concert - ADF19
Join New Zealand music legend Debbie Harwood as she performs a concert of her acclaimed Jazz album ‘Soothe me’.
This is a concert that celebrates the golden era of Jazz using the thread that is love and weaving its way through good times and bad, war and peace. It celebrates what holds us...
Date: Thursday 14 February
Where: MTG Century Theatre, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Lacy & Racy: Lingerie & Boudoir Wear of The 1920's & 30's
From practical to playful and romantic to racy, this talk covers both staid foundation garments and fanciful boudoir wear. Ever wondered just how you rolled your stockings down or what put the snap in your garters?
Join social historian and vintage clothing collector Inger Sheil as we take a...
Date: Friday 15 February
Where: MTG Century Theatre, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - Lacy & Racy: Lingerie & Boudoir Wear of The 1920's & 30's
Miss Jean Batten - ADF19
Presented by Kabarett:
Tempestuous, inspirational and utterly fearless, Pioneer aviator Jean Batten was the very model of a strong New Zealand woman. Her 1936 flight from England to New Zealand, navigating with just a compass and a watch, is one of the extraordinary feats of the last...
Date: Friday 15 February to Saturday 16 February
Where: MTG Century Theatre, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Public Art Guided Tour with Art Curator - Jess Mio
Join our Art Curator - Jess Mio for a lunch time walk discussing highlights of Napier City’s public art works.
Artworks included:
- Gold of the Kowhai
- Pin Wall
- Pania
- MTG Sea Wall
- 3 Sea Walls down by Rabbit Room
- Wave in Time art deco bronze sculpture
- Jacob Scott’s Napier...
Date: Thursday 21 February
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - Public Art Guided Tour with Art Curator - Jess Mio
March 2019
Seaweek - George Nuku’s 2118: A Bottled Ocean Floor Talk
Imagine the world in the year 2118, a world covered in endless ocean and populated by new forms of marine life that adapt in response to the proliferation of plastic.
This is the strange and beautiful world conjured within artist George Nuku’s ‘Bottled Ocean’ exhibition, created in...
Date: Wednesday 6 March to Saturday 9 March
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Read more » - Seaweek - George Nuku’s 2118: A Bottled Ocean Floor Talk
Lifting the Blues 2019
Ben Waters has become a legend in the Hawke’s Bay with his virtuoso piano skills and high energy performances.
He has the audience dancing in the aisles and rocking the MTG like never before, leaving no one in doubt as to why he is considered to be one the best pianists of all time. Come...
Date: Friday 22 March
Where: MTG Century Theatre, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
Ben Waters and Support
Ben Waters has become a legend in the Hawke’s Bay with his virtuoso piano skills and high energy performances.
He has the audience dancing in the aisles and rocking the MTG like never before, leaving no one in doubt as to why he is considered to be one the best pianists of all time. Come...
Date: Friday 22 March
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
April 2019
The Big Bike Film Night
Prepare to be inspired!
The Big Bike Film Night is on a mission sharing the best cycling short films from around the world with you.
Showcasing our 2019 collection that has everything a cycling-centric audience could want - action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration; the evening is...
Date: Saturday 27 April
Where: MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
SHARE WITH A FRIEND
Located in the Art Deco city of Napier. We have worked closely with our builders to promote and develop high quality housing within an open-aspect environment.
Located on Marine Parade, Napier, is the Bay Skate Park - home to skateboarding, BMX, roller derby, inline hockey and scootering.
We offer an all purpose built venue that uniquely combines spectacular outlooks with functional layout.
Strive to Inspire, Educate and Entertain by providing access to information through various resources within our Libraries. We aim to provide more than you expect.
Unique Art Deco heritage has been preserved with the skilful addition of modern theatre facilities making it the best provincial performing arts centre in the nation.
We are Hawkes Bay's premier holiday accommodation park providing an array of facilities to keep the entire family entertained.
Situated in the centre of Napier, in the middle of Onekawa Park, the Napier Aquatic Centre is a safe and affordable aquatic facility for everyone.
Come to Par2 MiniGolf and meet Seamore the Seagull at our sea-side minigolf courses. Challenge your friends and family for a round.
For Napier City residents and citizens to have easy access to see what council are currently working on, completed, what they do, facilities, and council information.
The Faraday Centre in Napier, is Hawke's Bay's Museum of Technology. It's a place of discovery where history comes alive through hands on experience.
Nowhere else in New Zealand will you discover a wider range of marine animals and native species in a single facility than at the National Aquarium of New Zealand.
Visit the Napier i-SITE to find out more about what is happening in Hawkes Bay, from events, activities and accommodation.
Build on the blossoming national and international interest in William Colenso's life and ideas as the result of the William Colenso Bicentenary Celebrations in Hawke's Bay in 2011, and a body of new publications and research.