New Zealand - Napier - A panoramic view of Napier. - 17/11/1921 - Unknown Photographer - Originally published in "The Auckland Weekly News" #336682 Napier - 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.