New Zealand - Napier - The Marine Parade, a street scene - 1910 - 1920 Period - Unknown Photographer - Real Photo Postcard Format #335729 - Napier is a city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay. - Captain James Cook was one of the first Europeans to see the future site of Napier when he sailed down the east coast in October 1769. - The Crown purchased the Ahuriri block (including the site of Napier) in 1851. - On 3 February 1931, most of Napier and nearby Hastings was levelled by an earthquake. The collapses of buildings and the ensuing fires killed 256 people.