New Zealand Disasters

Lesson 1: Earthquakes

Key Content

• Hawkes Bay Earthquake 1931
• Bay of Plenty Earthquake 1987
• Increasing and decreasing the effects of earthquakes.
• Effects of earthquakes on people and the land.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Briefly outline the sequence of events in the 1931 Hawkes Bay Earthquake.
• Describe what authorities in Wellington have done to reduce the effects of earthquakes.
• Describe the effects of an earthquake on people and the land.

1. Hawkes Bay 1931 - Terrible Earthquake Disaster at Napier-Hastings and Surroundings Theatre Service News / Ted Coubray, 1931

Terrbile Earthquake and Disaster (Ted Coubray, 1931)

Actual footage taken in the days after the Hawkes Bay earthquake showing among other things the results of building standards prior to modern earthquake regulations. Measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, 256 people died. Fire engulfed four hectares of central Napier within a few minutes of the first shock, and aftershocks were experienced for ten days.

a. What dangers faced the residents of Napier/Hastings during the earthquake?
Fire, falling masonry, falling into fissures in the ground.

b. Why do you think there was so much damage done to the buildings in Napier?
Unprepared for earthquake. No as strict building regulations as they have now. No sprinkler systems. Choice of building materials.

2. Hometown Boomtown [extracts] John Reid / Plumb Productions, 1983

Hometown Boomtown, 1983

In the late 1960s Parliament gave the Wellington City Council the go ahead to survey all the commercial buildings in the city for earthquake risk. They concentrated on the narrow strip of real estate known as the "golden mile" earmarking over 200 buildings as earthquake risks. Owners were given 15 years to strengthen or demolish their premises.

a. Why does the narrator suggest that there is no such thing as earthquake proof buildings?
Because buildings are only designed to withstand a certain level of shaking; after that there is the possibility that they may be damaged or collapse.

3. Edgecumbe 1987 Eyewitness News, 03/03/87, After the Quake, TVNZ, 1987

Eyewitness News (TVNZ, 1987)

Footage of the Bay of Plenty earthquake Civil Defence response and recovery.

a. Which government department sprang into disaster response action after the earthquake?
Civil Defence.

b. What type of vehicle got priority access to the earthquake affected area and why?
Ambulances to attend to any injured people.

c. Why did people sleep in tents and their cars after the earthquake?
They were worried about falling material during aftershocks.

d.What type of product is produced at the Kawerau Mill?
Paper.

e. What effects would the loss of production at the mill have?
Big effect on local economy. Workers unable to work and therefore not be paid. It would cost the company $300,000 per day in lost revenue.

f. What Bay of Plenty town was most affected by the earthquake?
Edgecumbe.

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