Quake's 85th to be marked

Napier Deputy Mayor Faye White

The 85th anniversary of the 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake will be commemorated by survivors again next year.

An afternoon tea will be held on the afternoon of Sunday, January 31, three days before the official commemoration of the February 3 earthquake that claimed the lives of 256 people.

Napier City deputy mayor Faye White, who co-ordinates the event, said this will be a particularly special occasion for our senior citizens who survived it.

"It will be a lovely time for them to meet up with old friends and share memories," she said.

Survivors come from all over Hawke's Bay and many from further afield. The oldest survivor is 103 and was 18 at the time of the earthquake, while the youngest is 85 and was only a few hours old at the time.

Invitations will be sent out in early January to survivors who have attended the afternoon tea in previous years.

Any who have not previously attended can contact Napier City Council to be added to the guest list.

The afternoon tea will be hosted by Napier Boys' High School. There will be live music from the era and a guest speaker.