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Located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island in the Hawke’s Bay area, roughly 400 kilometers southeast of Auckland. Ten kilometres to the south lies Hasting, Napier’s twin city. The two are sometimes known in New Zealand as “The Twin Cities”. Napier is dotted with vineyards and orchards wrapped in some of the most gorgeous farmland you’ll ever see. Napier is also the “Art Deco” capital of the world. After a 1931 earthquake flattened the city, most of Napier was rebuilt in Art Deco style. Hence, the city has some of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the world. Every year on the third week of February, locals and visitors dress to the nines. Hundreds of spit-and-polish vintage autos cruise along Marine Drive, big band music wafts through the air, and laughter is everywhere. As of 2007, Napier has been nominated for UNESCO status, the first cultural site in New Zealand to be nominated.

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