The Waiapu Cathedral in Napier will sound its bells at 10.48am 80 times on Thursday the 3rd of February to mark the 80th Anniversary of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake.

Ann Barrar, Events Manager at the Art Deco Trust, believes it is very fitting that the Napier Cathedral be involved in tolling its bells for this event.

“The original cathedral was completely destroyed on earthquake day and the tall tower of the “new” cathedral with its bells symbolizes the city reborn and standing tall”. “The bells are rung regularly before and after services and are tooled at the end of funerals for the number of years of a person’s life”.

Separate memorial services are being held in Napier and Hastings on the morning of Thursday

February 3 to mark the time of the quake that killed 258 people across Hawke’s Bay 80 years ago.

Mayor Barbara Arnott and senior officials are scheduled to attend the Napier service that starts at 10.30am at the Sound Shell. The Hastings service will be lead by Mayor Lawrence Yule and dignitaries, and will be held at the Performance Platform opposite the Hastings Clock Tower from 10.30am. Each service will take about an hour and will include speeches; prayer; reflections; and displays of vintage planes, vintage vehicles; and vintage machinery.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott believes that the 80th anniversary of the quake is a very important commemoration. “It will, in all likelihood be the last significant anniversary that will see survivors attending as those still alive now are elderly and will not be at the centennial service” she said.

Hastings Mayor, Lawrence Yule, also sees the service as events worthy of support by the whole Hawke’s Bay community. “The 1931 earthquake is New Zealand’s greatest natural disaster that saw the people of the region combine with courage to overcome tragedy and adversity to rebuild our cities to the architectural icons they are today”.

Both mayors are urging employer’s to give their staff an hour off work to attend the Civic Service.

Ms Barrar advises “We know of some firms that are closing for a period of the day, and a number of schools have also indicated they would be bringing their students to the services’, she said. “We would like to think that all residents of Hawke’s Bay acknowledge the tragedy and heroism that marks that time 80 years ago, and the importance of that day that changed the future of Hawke’s Bay”.

The services marks the start of a three day commemoration of activities with 13 free events being held over this period throughout Napier and Hastings. It is also the lead up to the Geon Art Deco Weekend 16-20 February which incorporates Art Deco lifestyle and architecture.

Copies of the programme for both events are listed within the Art Deco Weekend programme and are available from the Art Deco Trust, 163 Tennyson Street in Napier or the visitor information and tourism outlets in both cities. A full programme is also available on the Trust’s website www.artdeconapier.com

ENDS

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