Napier Pilot City

02/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Et9AwwzfK/

25/09/2026

A big thank you to all who came for the commemoration of The Seat at The Estuary in honour of Catherine and Pat Magill. It was such a special occasion for the Magill whanau to gather and remember Catherine (our family rock) and Pat the passionate campaigner who both so loved Napier and its people. We are grateful to Matt Eru Mana Ahuriri Trust, Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui a Orotu Pischef for their support. The Seat is situated opposite Sunset Court Motel, 68 Meeanee Quay, Westshore.
Plaques do not have space to fully honour the mahi of Catherine and Pat. So, we are grateful to Jason Scott and Jason Kendrick of Te Ara Hihiko for their exquisite carving which symbolises the story of Catherine and Pat. At the Commemoration we met Rhonda Diprose the daughter of Keith Sellar, a Co-Founder of NPC. Rhonda shared similar stories of her father's deep commitment to social justice in Napier.
Napier Pilot City celebrates it's fortieth year of advocacy - not bad on a low budget.
Thanks also to Doug Laing for the following article

Pat Magill died more than three years ago, aged 96. He would have been 100 next week.

23/09/2026

23/09/2026

Come and be inspired by Dr Carwyn Jones in Napier next Thursday.

17/09/2026

Big thanks to all who rocked up at The Pie Man on Wednesday to complete the annual Maraenui Street Survey. Before his death Pat Magill asked that a survey be undertaken in his beloved Maraenui to see how everyone was doing and what are the current concerns in the community.
It was the biggest attendance yet. The data will be collated. We will publish results and relevant action plan in FB in the near future. It's all about connecting, communicating and story telling. Big thanks to Roger for your hosting and Pat for your birthday shout!

26/08/2026

With so much in the news about forced Amalgamation, rate caps, fast track and bed tax, join us on Friday to hear Labour's spokesperson on Local Government. It's all happening so fast.

19/08/2026

Our community in action. Great stuff St Paul's. So good to see the shelter has recently helped transition its 25th person into permanent accommodation. So many people are working together to make Napier a kinder fairer city❤️

When a community gets behind a kaupapa, others take notice. 💜

One of the most powerful parts of the Āhuru Mōwai story has been the way Napier has rallied around this work.

Churches, businesses, community organisations, volunteers, individual donors and supporters have stepped forward because they believe people experiencing homelessness deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Now, a legacy stretching back more than 128 years has joined that support.

Paul's Presbyterian Church, Napier has committed $20,000 a year in 2026 and 2027 from the James Anderson Bequest to support the work of Āhuru Mōwai.

James Anderson was one of the founding elders of St Paul’s in 1858. When he died in 1898, his will included a bequest to help people in need in Napier.

Today, through the stewardship of St Paul’s, that legacy continues.

Pictured are Rev Mark Johnston of St Paul’s (left) and James Anderson Bequest Trustee Murray Arnold at James Anderson’s final resting place on Napier Hill.

For us, this support means much more than the dollars themselves.

Every organisation and individual who backs Āhuru Mōwai strengthens the case we can make as we build relationships with philanthropic trusts and Government and work towards a sustainable future for this service.

It shows that this isn't an organisation working in isolation. It is a community responding together.

We are enormously grateful to St Paul’s for believing in the work, and to every person and organisation that has contributed time, money, resources, expertise or encouragement since this kaupapa began.

You have helped us get this far. And you are helping us build the foundation for what comes next.

From a bequest made more than a century ago to the generosity we see across Napier today, this is what community looks like.

Ngā mihi nui. 🙏🏽

15/08/2026

He Whānau Kara o Maraenui - Maraenui’s Family of Flags are on display at Kahukura (formerly the MTG museum) until mid-November.
To celebrate the exhibition opening a morning tea is being held at 10am on Sunday August 16 - nau mai, haere mai - all welcome.
There are 18 banners now and a large fabric mural of Moremore - all made by the community for the community. The museum only has room to display 14 of them in their foyer for the exhibition, though all the banners will be on show tomorrow morning.
It’s free to visit the museum, so make sure you go and visit the whānau while the show is on.
Here’s how this project came about and a little of the journey the flag whānau have been on:
After Maraenui Christmas in the Park 2023, one of the organisers, Raewyn Kingi, said we should have a set of flags reflecting the community to brighten community events in Maraenui and elsewhere.
In November 2024, Raewyn and Neill Gordon organised a workshop at William Colenso College with leading New Zealand fabric artist Maungarongo (Ron) Te Kawa (Ngāti Porou). Twenty-three volunteers came, worked all weekend and made 10 stunning flags.
Four of the flags joined the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Te Whanganui-a-Tara on November 19. Te Papa museum asked to take these 4 flags into its permanent collection as part of the history of the hīkoi and funded a second workshop in June 2025 so replacements could be made.
The designs include Pania, the Maraenui M, the mokimoki fern of Pukemokimoki Marae, a tui, a wahine toa, the Tino flag, a ruru, Matariki, and Hīkoinga Harakeke - the Harakeke Walkway between Chambers and Nash streets.
The flags have been gifted to the Tū Tangata Maraenui Trust and are displayed as much as possible, including at events like Maraenui Christmas in the Park, Waitangi Day, Matariki, Pilot City's Unity Day and school prize-givings.

12/07/2026

Remembering Maaki Kururangi who passed away a year ago today. Maaki had those skills that connect people and build communities. He is particularly remembered in the early days for his involvement in driving Christmas in the Park at Maraenui along with other footsoldiers. Loving thoughts to Sue and whanau. From the Pilot City whanau.

03/07/2026

KFC = Kinder Fairer City. Mr Pat Magill - No secret ingredients. Just Aroha ❤️🤍🖤 🍗🍟