Napier's Legendary 30,000 Club: Talk with Michael Fowler

A presentation about Napier’s legendary 30,000 club, and its indelible mark today.

MTG Century Theatre, Thursday 2nd May, 5:30pm

Napier’s 30,000 Club was the envy of New Zealand.
Formed in 1912, it was a forerunner of many service organisations such as Lions and Rotary, but acted more as a progress league. Its main purpose was to raise money for Napier (originally all of Hawke’s Bay), to enable improvements.
It’s intended life span was until the population of Napier reached 30,000 – which it did in the late 1960s with the merger of Taradale – but it continued until 1975 – a total of 63 years.
Many other locations in New Zealand tried to emulate Napier’s 30,000 club, but came up short.
A major fundraiser for the 30,000 club was its Christmas/New Year fundraiser, which continued through the life of its existence – and beyond, until the Art Deco Festival ultimately superseded it.
Much of the improvements done to the Marine Parade before and after the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake were completed by the 30,000 Club.
It was a powerful group of men which belonged to the 30,000 Club – and what they wanted often led them into conflict with the Napier Borough Council, and outwitting the Council became somewhat of a game to the members. But what resulted is a beautiful part of Napier, admired the world over.
Hosted by the MTG Foundation as a fundraising event for the new MTG Hawke's Bay Research and Archive Centre.
Image credit: Marine Parade 1930’s, Michael Fowler Collection

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