History of Napier Conference Centre

The Napier Conference Centre is the new name for the facility formerly known as The Napier War Memorial Conference Centre (between 1995 and 2016). The original War Memorial for which it was previously named was built by public subscription in 1956 in memory of those who lost their lives in the Second World War conflict.

It was renovated and enlarged by the Napier City Council in 1995 to continue as a living, working memorial, befitting those Napier Citizens who served and died in the conflict.

Originally the Roll of Honour included only the names of those that lost their lives in the Second World War, who resided in the Napier Borough. The city now has wider boundaries, and thus three additional plaques now also record the names of those from the wider Napier area, from Bay View to Meeanee and Taradale. As the city's permanent inscription of World War I losses was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake, the new upper tier of names has been added. Another plaque records those who died in the post World War II conflicts.

This expanded Roll of Honour was rededicated on 30 September, 1995 at the facility's reopening as the War Memorial Centre in the 50th year since the end of World War II.

The creation of this new and complete Roll of Honour was a joint project between the Napier City Council and the Napier and Taradale Returned Services Associations, assisted by a grant allocation from the 'New Zealand Remembers' fund. The bicultural re-dedication service was conducted by the Napier City Council of Churches attended by the Seventh Battalion (Wellington - City of Wellington's own - and Hawke's Bay) Regiment Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

Regrettably, due to the disrepair the hall had fallen into, the Memorial Eternal Flame was extinguished years ago. At the re-dedication ceremony the Eternal Flame was relit by Napier's oldest soldier, World War I veteran and former Mayor, Mr E.R (Ron) Spriggs M.B.E. Currently the memorial flame remains lit, housed in a secure Council property until its new placement has been finalised.

View the names on the Roll of Honour