Disaster
9 events between 1855–1988, shown on the map in this colour.
The Wairarapa earthquake
At an estimated magnitude 8.2, the most powerful earthquake recorded in New Zealand lifted the southern end of the Remutaka Range by more than 6 metres and raised Wellington’s shoreline out of the sea.
WairarapaMount Tarawera erupts
The mountain split along 17 kilometres, buried the villages of Te Wairoa, Te Ariki and Moura, and destroyed the Pink and White Terraces.
Mount TaraweraThe influenza pandemic
About 9,000 people died in two months — roughly half as many as died in four years of war. Māori died at more than eight times the Pākehā rate.
The Hawke’s Bay earthquake
A magnitude 7.8 quake devastated Napier and Hastings and killed 256 people — still New Zealand’s deadliest earthquake.
NapierThe Ballantynes fire
Forty-one people, all but two of them staff, died in a department store fire in central Christchurch, most of them trapped on the upper floors.
ChristchurchThe Tangiwai railway disaster
A lahar from Mount Ruapehu struck the rail bridge over the Whangaehu River minutes before the Wellington–Auckland express reached it. The bridge gave way under the train and 151 people died.
TangiwaiThe Wahine disaster
The inter-island ferry struck Barrett Reef in a storm with winds over 150 km/h and capsized in the harbour entrance. Fifty-three people died.
Wellington HarbourThe Erebus disaster
An Air New Zealand sightseeing flight to Antarctica flew into Mount Erebus in whiteout conditions. All 257 people aboard died.
Departed Auckland AirportCyclone Bola
Over 900 millimetres of rain fell on the East Coast in three days, stripping hillsides and cutting the region off. At least three people died.
Gisborne