Slice of Bay's history online

A new era in the recording of Hawke's Bay history has arrived after the region's entry for online Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, Te Ara, went live last night.
The unveiling of "Hawke's Bay - A Special Place" - took place before mayors, other dignitaries and contributors in Napier's War Memorial Conference Centre.
The 13th of 22 regional "entries" since Te Ara was established by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage in 2005 as the "world's first national encyclopaedia," it traces historic settlement and economic development, from the fortunes of the rural sector to the development of the Magpies.
It comes with a certain amount of local feel, with Te Ara general editor Jock Phillips noting he went to primary school in Havelock North, and that several others associated with the project come from the area.
But entry author Kerryn Pollock revealed she hadn't had "a lot" to do with the Bay, and had to spend a week driving around the region to confirm she was "on the right track" with her presentation of the volumes of material available.
"It was crucial," she said. "I couldn't have done it without that."
Given that the visit was in the event-month of February, some of her observations are unsurprising.
"It is a diverse region laden with contrasts," she said.
"The vineyard owners, gourmet food producers and traditional farming families contrast sharply with some poorer parts of the region."
Mr Phillips said: "Hawke's Bay is one of the most seismically active regions in the country.
"The most destructive earthquake to life and property was the 1931 earthquake, killing at least 256 people, and destroying most of central Napier and parts of other towns."
However, the earthquake raised over 2000ha, providing vital room for the previously water-bound town to grow, including Marewa, built on land reclaimed by the earthquake and with a name meaning "gift from the sea".
Origins of place names Cape Turnagain and Cape Kidnappers, how Havelock North started as Havelock and a translation of the longest place name in the world are included, and the site traverses the ongoing subject of why there's an apostrophe in the name Hawke's Bay.
"As well as some of the more unusual facts about the Hawke's Bay, the site also explores the important role the land has played in the area's development as a source of prosperity," Ms Pollock said.
 Mr Phillips said Te Ara attracts about 10,000 visits a day, 80 per cent originating with Google searches. Of these, 40 per cent are from outside New Zealand and at least a third relate to school work, judging from peaks heading towards exams and troughs during school holidays, he said.
 * www.TeAra.govt.nz/places/HawkesBay