Quakes!

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

I always check the 'Recent Earthquakes in NZ' page: http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html

I read that Wellington is on a fault, has anyone experienced any significant quakes in Wellington, or any part of NZ?

SoCal Gal · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 10:52 am Post subject: Quakes

I'd like some first-hand info too. Here in the US, they showed a special on the educational channel a few months back about the earthquakes in NZ, and the havoc caused in the waters between North and South Islands. We only caught the very end, and it has been in the back of our minds - are we leaving one earthquake zone here in Cal. for another? Many thanks!

MichelleW · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:57 am Post subject:

The people I have been talking to are near Wellington,they said that there have been some small quakes where they have felt a bit of movement.The only really big one i've heard of happened in Napier in the 1930's and from what I understand,really tore the place up.
I would also like to here more info if anyone has it.

Michelle

John Miller · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 9:45 am Post subject:

If you don't like the idea of earthquakes, Auckland's definitely best - no quakes as far as I know. All we have to worry about here is volcanos popping up in our living rooms. Laughing

rebecca · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 10:00 am Post subject:

When I was in Christchurch back in October we had a tremor. Nothing serious though, it only lasted for a few seconds.

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

It's good that Auckland is relatively earthquake - free.

It's more the Wellington area that I'm worried about, because we're thinking of moving there.

I'm not worried about smaller earthquakes - just the big ones!

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

Rebecca: looking at a map of the fault, it seems that Christchurch has a faultline near it too.

Gerry · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 3:49 am Post subject:

The first year I was in Nelson, I was at the movies and, during a loud scene I felt vibrations. I was appropriatly impressed by the sound and special effect (it was one those crash bang movies), but when I mentioned it to my my companion later, it was explained to me later that this had been a tremor.

On another occassion I was in the kitchen and I heard the wine glasses on the shelf rattle togeter for a couple of seconds.

If that's earthquakes, bring 'em on.............

Seriously, whatever was on this doco about NZ disasters was obviously sensationalised.

Gerry

JCM · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 7:14 am Post subject:

Here's a picture showing all of NZ's big earthquakes since 1848.

Notice how you could just about draw a band running through NZ that would cover all of the quake sites.

The next picture is of all of NZ's tremors for the last 10 years. Notice how they're concentrated in bands - the fault lines. If you're living on a fault line, the chances of a big quake are obviously much higher than if you're not.

These pictures, and others, are available at the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited's website at http://www.gns.cri.nz/

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

Cheers, JCM.

Very informative!