[jazz]

Without wanting to be alarmist,i am just curious if other immigants or potentials are concerned/aware about NZ`s extremely active earthquakes.

Having lived in ChCh i had a few "shakes".( and one huge mother!)
The big one happened while my family and i were having breakfast(2002),we were sitting at the table munching away when we heard what sounded like a huge locomotive steaming down the road very quickly towards our house!
The next thing we knew our house was rocking as if it were at sea in very rough weather,then the shaking started,pictures were falling,odds and ends were flying.We were all gobsmacked(it happened so fast),we huddled under our big wooden table just as the government manual had said(it did mean something!)
Then it was all over,peace.We switched on for the news and there had been a quake up near Athurs pass,we were just feeling the "ripples".
Thankfully it had ocurred in a very remote spot away from civilisation,so nobody was injured.
But it will happen again and experts predict that Wellington is looking the likely place.

Only 150 years ago a huge quake rocked Wellers,destroying most of its buildings,there were only a few fatalities,no more than 10.
As day broke,clouds of dust rose from the rubble and the shoreline had completely changed.
The road running along the shore between Wellington and Lower Hutt could only be passed at low tide,from that day onwards the road has been passable at any time despite the tides.It is now a motorway.
Today Wellington`s airport stands on land that 160 years ago was below sea level thanks to the quake!

If you could see the dramatic shifts of the landscape that can happen in New Zealand over time, i don`t think people would live or build places near Wellington.

Just a thought....

[Rabbit]

In 1990 an earthquake along the nearby Pontesford-Linley Fault (Shropshire, UK) registered 5.2 on the Richter scale - so we do get them in the UK just not very big or often.

I experienced the 7.3 Josua Tree / Landers earthquake in LA, that was scarey.

5's are OK, 7+ not too keen.

Some people in NZ think it is about time for a big one?

Here's the link to the most recent one in NZ :D

http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html

[clg]

Here are a collection of stories that should scare you: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~sai/nzquakes05.html

It is not just Wellington!

I lived with them before in LA and you hope they don't happen but realize they might and keep lots of supplies on hand. Just about everywhere has some sort of hazzards to deal with.

Chris

[kiwidebs]

and what about Auckland's many dormant (not extinct) volcanoes and tsunami risk, and what about that huge meteor that is overdue to wipe out the earth, and did anyone see the program about the Yellowstone Park supervolcano that is overdue to explode big time? I guess, in my humble opinion, life on this unstable planet is a bit of a risk and living in fear of 'the big one' would be a waste of time. Life's too short:) .

Debs

[Avalon]

its like that all over NZ. Pretty much no matter where you live here you are at risk of eathquakes.

On the positive side - there is teh Earthquake commision (EQ) which gives out free advise on how to quake proof your home, and the standing advise is always to make sure you have enoug food. water and suppiles for at least 3 days in case of a big one.

Also, part of your home and contenst insurance goes to them - and they pay out for earthquake damage.

Some sites of interest:
http://www.geonet.co.nz/
Lets you know that you really disnt imagine the earth moving last night :laugh
http://www.eqc.govt.nz/
The Earthquake commision

[Diny]

At my boys' school they have notices in each classroom. The top half of the notice is giving instruction what to do in the case of a fire. The bottom half is what to do in the case of an earthquake.

We have an 'emergency box' (only recently put it together) of a few 'essentials' for when/if the biggie hits. And YES, a couple of bottles of Pinot Gris and a few bars of chocolate ARE essentials !!!

Over the years I've experienced a number of quakes over here in NZ. Mum and Dad were recently over here for 8 weeks and experienced 2 during their visit.

I kinda like them, however, I doubt I'd be saying that with my house in a pile and half the town gone.

Diny

[veronica]

the subject of natural disasters was covered in a thread a while ago. if you do a forum search you will probably find it. For my own part I think the threat of an earthquake is overshadowed by the possibility of being in a car crash, far more likely.

[Moorf]

Oh I don't know V.... since we've been here we've felt two tiny quakes and had one car accident :D ;)

[veronica]

Yeah but which one hurt the most!!

[Moorf]

:D ... no contest, the wobble in the night loses...

[marcia]

I'm a big believer in fate!

If your numbers up (no matter where you are in the world) its up!!!!

I think I'd rather take my chances with the earthquakes in NZ than the lunatic suicide bombers roaming our streets (those who did the London bombings came from Bradford, 20 minutes from us! :exit )

[Diny]

Well there's many many times more earthquakes here than suicide bombers in the UK (several hundred quakes a year compared to one bombing to date) but I know what you mean about fate. I agree - if your name is called then your name is called - kaput !!

Diny

[jazz]

Of course, you have to get on with life.
Just as the commuters in London do after the bombings.If you didn`t,then our world would stop.
The good points of living in NZ,for me anyway,far outweigh the threat of earthquakes.

But none the less,the threat is there.We just have to be prepared.

As for fate.

"Destiny is not a matter of chance,it is a matter of choice,it is not a thing to be waited for,it is a thing to be achieved." William Bryan 1860-1925