Art Deco Trust is a guardian, a storyteller, and an interpreter of unique national treasures.
The Trust is the guardian of a collection of art deco buildings constructed after the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake and fire; the storyteller of courageous people who were able to imagine a new city and adopt the energy and optimism of a modern art and design movement to create it; and the interpreter of the spirit of Art Deco to audiences in Hawkes Bay, and the world.
Guardian
The Art Deco Trust came out of a group formed in 1985 to protect the unique 1930s buildings that for 50 years had been unrecognised, undervalued and were under threat of demolition.
Thanks to the advocacy of a new generation of courageous people with vision, these heritage buildings are now recognised, valued and protected. Thanks to the Trust’s Robert McGregor Heritage Fund, supported by Napier City Council and Heritage Working Group, funds are now available to help preserve and restore Hawke’s Bay’s Art Deco heritage.
Storyteller
The story of how Napier rose out of the rubble and ashes of the 1931 earthquake is just the compelling opening chapter of a bigger and equally intriguing story of how Napier people, New Zealanders and many world-wide fell in love with treasures that had been hiding in plain sight for 50 years. There are the stories of those who created the buildings, of the battles lost and won in the fight to preserve the historic precinct, and of those buildings brought back from the brink.
Interpreter
Emerging after the First World War, the Art Deco Movement celebrated the modern age, the machine, and synthetic materials. Its designs were simple. Its spirit was optimistic and energetic. People had the opportunity to imagine a new future. Napier embraced the chance to modernise and bring beauty from the ashes. The Trust is the interpreter of that spirit of the 1930s to New Zealand in the 2020s.
Let the spirit of Art Deco shine on!
Our History
In February 1985 a group of passionate heritage advocates joined together in order to promote the newly published “Take a Walk Through Art Deco Napier” leaflet, which had been funded by the Hawke’s Bay Museum, the Ministry of Works & Development and the Napier City Council
In June 1985 this group organised the premiere of Peter Wells’ television film “Newest City On The Globe”; on a fine winter Sunday afternoon, a crowd of 1100 people turned out to walk the streets of Napier and view its buildings, before viewing the film in a 340-seat theatre. The public’s enthusiasm encouraged those involved to continue working for the preservation, enhancement and promotion of Napier’s unique architecture, constructed after the Earthquake of 1931.
Art Deco Trust was legally incorporated in 1987 and since then the Trust has hosted Walks&Tours of art deco Napier.
The first Weekend of Art Deco celebrations took place over the third weekend of February 1989.
In 1992, with support from the Napier City Council, the Trust became a full-time operation with a salaried staff member and its own premises and shop at what was once the Napier’s Central Fire Station in Tennyson Street, Napier.
Art Deco Trust is a founding member of the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (ICADS) and hosted the fifth, biennial, World Congress for ICADS in Napier in 1999.
In 2008 Art Deco Trust became a registered charity: CC21328
Today the Trust occupies at 7 Tennyson Street, Napier known as the Art Deco Centre. Governed by a Board of Trustees, operations are managed by 8 paid staff are supported by over 120 dedicated and active volunteers.
In 2022 the Trust embarked on an ambitious restoration project, in partnership with Napier City Council. The project will see Napier’s Memorial Square Community Rooms (formerly known as the Women’s Rest) conserved and restored as the new home of the Art Deco Trust and its activities and also operate as a central Napier Community Facility. Click here for more information.
Date of Incorporation: 27-Mar-1987
Incorporation Number: 340607
Date of registration as a charitable entity under the Charities Act 2025 25-Feb-2008
Registration number: CC21328
NZBN: 9429042577935
IRD Number: 055-081-239
GST Number: 055-081-239
What the Trust does:
Heritage:
Heritage Fund | Hawke’s Bay Heritage Awards | Publications | Restoration Projects
Tourism:
Guided Walks | Guided Car Tours | Shop
Events:
Art Deco Festival Napier | Winter Deco Festival
Support us:
Membership | Donate | Volunteer
Staff
Jeremy Smith, Heritage Manager / GM
Jane Roberts, Finance and Administration Manager
Fiona Simon, Walks & Tours Manager
Miranda Plummer, Vintage Car Logistics
Stephen Matthews, Vintage Car Maintenance
Jess Leslie, Events Manager
Heather Walter, Events Coordinator
Matthew Bonnett, Membership & Marketing Coordinator
Maggie Genet, Tours Assistant
Kaleen Cooke, Tours Assistant
Robyn Malony, Tours Assistant
Christine Bongiovanni, Retail Supervisor
Art Deco Trust
7 Tennyson Street,
Napier, New Zealand
Phone: +64 6 835 0022
Email the Art Deco Trust
www.artdeconapier.com
facebook.com/artdecotrust
Instagram: @artdeconapier
Art Deco Festival Napier
7 Tennyson Street,
Napier, New Zealand
Phone: +64 6 835 0022
Email the Festival
www.artdecofestival.co.nz
facebook.com/artdecofestivalnapier
Instagram: @art_deco_festival
Become a volunteer
Help preserve and protect the Art Deco heritage of Napier and Hawke’s Bay by becoming a Trust Volunteer – become a walk guide, vintage car driver, support us during our Festival periods, retail and administration.
Phone 06 835 0022 and press 1 for walks, tours, and retail, or email walks@artdeconapier.com.
Become a member
Help preserve and protect the Art Deco heritage of Napier and Hawke’s Bay by becoming a member of the Aert Deco Trust. Membership starts from $40.
Phone 06 835 0022 and press 3 for membership or email membership@artdeconapier.com for more details.
We would love to hear from you.
Board of Trustees
Barbara Arnott, Chair
Martin Bain
Rachel Bashnick, Deputy Chair
Amy Cowan
Simon Dunn
Ben Hutton
Councillor Chad Tareha
Jan Simmonds, Trust Secretary
Risk, Finance and Audit Commitee
Rachel Bashnick, Chair
Barbara Arnott
Jeremy Smith
Jane Roberts
Health and Safety Committee
Martin Bain
Stephen Matthews
Jane Roberts
Jeremy Smith, Chair
Ana Sullivan
Volunteers Committee
Judy Anderson
Lesley Ennor
Tony Mairs
Tony Smith
Ana Sullivan, Chair
Bev Thomsen, Secretary and Almoner
Rose Unsworth
Festival Committee
Ben Hutton, Chair
Jess Leslie
Jeremy Smith
Building Committee
Barbara Arnott
Simon Dunn, Chair
Jeremy Smith
Child Protection Committee
Fiona Simon
Jane Roberts, Chair
Jeremy Smith
Life Membership Nominations Committee
Fiona Simon
Martin Bain, Chair
Jeremy Smith
Ana Sulivan
Heritage Working Group
Matthew Bonnett, Historic Places Hawke’s Bay
Ronda Chrystal, Napier City Councillor
Ann Galloway, Architect and Art Deco Trust member
Fleur Lincoln, Principal Policy Planner, Napier City Council
Guy Marriage, Senior Lecturer, Wellington School of Architecture
Jeremy Smith, Heritage Manager/GM, Art Deco Trust
Reference Documents
Rules of Art Deco Trust | Child Protection Guidelines | Privacy Policy
Art Deco Trust is a registered charity with the New Zealand Charities Commission (CC21328), our charitable purpose is to protect, promote, restore and celebrate Napier’s Art Deco era heritage buildings. Our charitable status makes you eligible for a tax refund of up to a third of your donation. All transactions are billed in New Zealand dollars – click here to make a donation today and help us achieve our purpose.
Discover Napier with the Trust
Explore the charm of Napier – New Zealand’s Art Deco gem! Unearth its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture.
Art Deco Colours of Napier
Art Deco Napier owes its present day ‘look and feel’ to the devastation following the 1931 Earthquakes, the brilliant minds of the Rebuilding Committee and to contemporary science. Art Deco Trust and RESENE Paint have worked closely together over many years to keep Napier’s buildings resplendent in their Art Deco style. Click here to learn more.