Makeover returns sparkling colour to Napier's Art Deco Tom Parker fountain

The fine new flowing and glowing face of the Tom Parker Fountain in Napier. Photo / Bari Duncan

One of Napier's Art Deco landmarks which has been making a splash since being unveiled in 1936 has received a fine late-winter makeover which has had locals and visitors alike expressing their delight.

The Tom Parker Fountain had become slightly weary in appearance so the Napier City Council called in a makeover team made up of a painting and specialist coatings crew from Eric Wiig and lighting and electrical specialists from Pro Electrical.

Parks, Reserves and Sportsgrounds team leader Debra Stewart said the fountain had in the past been drained, cleaned and painted, but over time it was too prone to wearing away.

The Tom Parker Fountain on Napier's Marine Parade before the startling recent revamp. Photo / Napier City Council

So it was decided to recoat the fountain with a strong and specialised coating used in swimming pools.

"We are hoping the new product will keep it looking sharp for much longer," Stewart said.

With the pond emptied and temporary surrounding walls put up for the month-long revamp, the council also took the opportunity to fix and fortify the electrical system at the same time, replacing bulbs and fixing the water-spout systems.

Stewart said the cold weather during the job did slow things down a little as the paints needed extra time to cure, but said the council had not wanted to carry out the work in summer when the holiday season bloomed with visitors.

The colourful lights which illuminate the jets of water are now more vibrant and startling during the evening hours.

And during the day the fresh new look has drawn a stream of pedestrian admirers, many taking photos as visitors have long done.

The fountain was officially opened on the night before Christmas Eve in 1936, and after battling through the recession years locals were delighted to have some colourful sparkle back in their lives.

The fountain's donor was the owner of a men's outfitters shop in Hastings St, Tom Parker.

He was known for his gifting to worthy causes and to the city he loved, and during one of his regular visits to Britain he was impressed by a modern illuminated fountain in Bournemouth.

So upon his return he donated £1000 for a similar fountain, which was designed by Napier architect J.T. Watson and built on Marine Parade on an area previously occupied by a children's playground.

The fountain was powered by a General Electric Company Novalux 15 Projector electric motor imported from the United States, and when it's running the fountain's kaleidoscopic changes of coloured lights are synchronised with the sequences of the water jets.