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Napier (New Zealand)

image located by Dave Fowler, 28 January 2020

The flag
Former flag
Previous arms

See also:

The flag

Reported at https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12303701 and https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/hawkes-bay-today/20200128/281513638125886:

   Napier City Council has proposed changing the official flag of the city, because the current one does not meet requirements for a flag. The flag will be discussed at the council's first meeting of the year on Thursday. Napier City's current flag is unusual in that it contains the city's full coat of arms, which has limitations around who can display it. The proposed flag, known as a heraldic flag, has been designed to
incorporate the shield of the coat of arms and elements such as the roses, waves and "golden fleece". The three red roses are taken from
the coat of arms of Lord Napier and Ettrick, a direct descendant of Sir Charles Napier, after whom Napier was named. The wavy undulated blue bands on the shield are the accepted heraldic symbols for coastal towns and denote tourist resorts and ports. The Golden Fleece is the heraldic symbol of the wool industry, of which Napier is one of the largest centres in New Zealand.
   The council was notified in 1995 by the Royal College of Arms in England that a full coat of arms should not be included on the flag. The council does not know why the change wasn't made then, the agenda states. A member of the public recently asked to buy and display the Napier flag, but permission could not be given because the flag contains the entire coat of arms. After conversation with the Ministry Of Culture and Heritage and a review of the council's archival records in relation to the flag, a "correct" city flag was designed.
   Napier City Council developed its own branding - the Norfolk pine - relatively recently and this design is used for council-related flags and banners. However the formal flag for Napier City is meant to be presented based on the coat of arms. The agenda also states that there will be no need for any public consultation as "the correct design of a heraldic flag is a specialised matter and does not trigger council's significance and engagement policy or any other consultation requirements.
   Councillors have the option in Thursday's meeting to either adopt the correct heraldic flag of the City of Napier - which would allow members of the public to buy and display the flag if they want to - or to maintain the current flag only, with the full coat of arms. This arrangement would be for council use only.
located by Dave Fowler, 28 January 2020

From https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12304732:
New Napier flag to go ahead but potential for further discussions - NZ Herald
Napier City Councillors have voted to change the city's flag, but have also noted the potential for some informal designs for the community to get behind. The proposal was talked about at ... www.nzherald.co.nz
Dave Fowler, 30 January 2020

image located by Ralph Bartlett, 29 January 2020

As a follow-up about Napier City Council's proposed City Flag, I wish to inform everyone that information about the current Napier City Coat-of-Arms and Council Logo can be found at; https://www.napier.govt.nz/our-council/about/brand-crest-and-logo/
Ralph Bartlett, 29 January 2020

Napier is a city on the central east coast of New Zealand's North Island. it has a population of about 60,000, and forms part of a conurbation with its near twin, Hastings, which lies immediately inland of Napier. It is the regional capital of the Hawke's Bay Region and sits, rather confusingly, on the coast of Hawke Bay, for which the region is named. The local Maori iwi (tribe) is Ngati Kahungunu.

The city is a popular resort, being one of the sunniest cities in New Zealand. The climate is also responsible for the region as a whole being one of the country's top wine-producing regions.

Napier is also known, both nationally and internationally, for its Art Deco architecture (it calls itself the Art Deco capital of the Southern Hemisphere). A major earthquake in 1931 - the country's deadliest recorded quake - destroyed much of the central city, and it was largely rebuilt in the style, which was at its peak at the time.

The city is often symbolised by the mythical Maori figure of Pania, the reef maiden, a statue of whom is found close to the city's shoreline. The statue has a similar symbolic relationship with Napier as the Little Mermaid statue does with Copenhagen.
James Dignan, 29 January 2020

Former flag

image located by Valentin Poposki, 27 July 2020

Here is a photo of the previous city flag, located here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12304732
Valentin Poposki, 27 July 2020

Previous Arms

image located by Ralph Bartlett, 29 January 2020

In early November 2018 I visited Napier as part of a coach tour of New Zealand, and photographed an older Napier Shield / Coat-of-Arms on the street frontage of the Napier Municipal Theatre, also attached. To date I have not been able to locate any information about this older Municipal Shield.
Dave Fowler, 28 January 2020