Hawke’s Bay earthquake On 3 February 1931, New Zealand’s
deadliest earthquake devastated the cities of Napier and
Hastings, Hawke’s Bay. At least 256 people died in the magnitude
7.8 earthquake: 161 in Napier, 93 in Hastings, and two in
Wairoa. Many thousands more required medical treatment. At
10.47am on 3 February 1931, a violent shock, followed closely by
a second, rocked Hawke’s Bay for almost three minutes. A tanker
at sea felt a violent vibration, and the seamen on board looked
to the shore to see Napier covered by a cloud of rising dust.
The HMS Veronica had just tied up in Napier’s inner harbour when
the earthquake hit. Captain Morgan at first thought there had
been an explosion on board, but then saw the wharf twisting, and
beyond it houses and other buildings crumpling to the ground.
Dust rose in clouds from the shattered buildings, making it
difficult for people to breathe, and huge splits in the roads
appeared. Panic-stricken, people ran down to the beaches where
they hoped to be safe. As the wate