Text Box: Media Announcement
Afternoon Tea for 1931 Earthquake Survivors
The 1931 Earthquake Survivors Afternoon Tea will be held again on Sunday 10 February 2013.
The event is an opportunity for people who came through the 1931 earthquake as young people to share their memories and
catch up with old friends.
“This has been a very popular and enjoyable occasion over the years as our older citizens take the opportunity to get
together and share memories of this important event in their lives,” says Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott.
The afternoon tea has some traditions, such as the Mayor’s cake being cut by the oldest and youngest survivors before
tea, sandwiches and cakes are served by volunteers. There are also musical items from the era for guests to enjoy.
This year photographs will be taken of the survivors as some of them have asked for this.
The afternoon tea will be hosted again by Napier Boys High School at their Henderson Hall in Chambers St; the school was
damaged in the earthquake. The Hawke’s Bay branch of the Red Cross will provide guests with name tags that are replicas
of the ones used for evacuees in 1931; the NZ Red Cross was established directly as a result of the 1931 earthquake.
Parking and disabled access is available, and the Art Deco Trust guides are on hand to assist guests where needed.
Invitations will be sent in January to survivors who have attended the afternoon tea in previous years. If any survivors
have not attended before and would like to be invited, they can register at the Mayor of Napier’s office. Carers and
family are welcome.
The afternoon tea is organised jointly by Napier City Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Civil Defence, the Hawke’s
Bay Art Deco Trust, Hawke’s Bay Red Cross, and Napier Boys’ High School.
“The afternoon is a friendly, community event and made possible by the generosity of many other organisations and
businesses who help make this a special event for our special senior citizens,” said Mayor Arnott.
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