Motorhome army rolls into Napier for Art Deco Festival

(From left): Art Deco Festival visitors Karl Prouse, from Christchurch, Debbie Richards, from Wainuiomata, and Karen Fielding and Dean Ireland, from Masterton, at the pop-up motorhome camp in Napier.

An army of caravans and motorhomes has descended on Napier for the city’s biggest event of the year, the Art Deco Festival.

The four-day festival attracts thousands of visitors each year and the 2025 edition got under way on Thursday.

It is being lauded as the first “full” festival since pre-Covid times due to the impact of the pandemic and Cyclone Gabrielle, which included a last-minute cancellation during the February 2023 cyclone.

NZ Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) Hawke’s Bay has long partnered with Napier City Council and opened up a large grass area off Marine Parade – opposite the foreshore – for self-contained motorhomes and caravans to stay at.

The pop-up site in Napier for self-contained motorhomes and caravans attending the festival.

Up to 180 vehicles have stayed at the site during the festival’s busiest years, and organisers are hopeful for a strong turnout this year.

By Thursday morning, over 70 motorhomes and caravans had already snapped up a spot, with plenty more expected at a cost of $20 per night.

Plenty of other visitors – including those in motorhomes – are also staying at campgrounds and accommodation providers across the city.

Visitor Debbie Richards, from Wainuiomata, said the foreshore parking was a big factor in her attending this year.

Art Deco-era dancers entertain the crowds at the Sound Shell on Thursday.

“That is why we initially organised this whole weekend.”

Her friend Karen Fielding, and Karen’s partner Dean Ireland, attended last year and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return to the festival this year with their motorhome.

“I think just everyone getting dressed up and all of the music they have on – the whole weekend is just so much fun,” Fielding, from Masterton, said.

Ireland said they loved it so much last year that “we said, ‘We have to go and dress up for this year’s festival’”.

A street performer during the opening day of the festival.

The group also attended a wedding in Ahuriri on Thursday, which they said added to a fantastic weekend.

Air New Zealand was reporting about 6000 passenger arrivals in Napier this week — a 10% increase on average visitor numbers.

Thursday was the busiest day for arrivals, Air NZ confirmed.

Some of the proceeds from the NZMCA pop-up site off Marine Parade, just south of the aquarium, will go to charity.

Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.