Louis Hay set up his architectural practice in the beautiful seaside town of Napier.

There he stamped his mark with a range of buildings, embracing current international architectural innovations, particularly assimilating the modernist style of American Frank Lloyd Wright. After the devastating Hawke’s Bay 1931 earthquake Louis Hay became a member of the newly formed Associated Architects and Napier Reconstruction Committees. Their challenge: to rebuild the town in a sympathetic, modern style using the new New Zealand building code. Over the course of an hour, this walking tour will take you on a trip back in time through the lens of one of Napier’s most important and beloved architects.

Hosted by Gail Pope, Social History Curator at Kahukura Hawke’s Bay Museum.