Author(s): Helen McConnochie

Hawke's Bay | Secondhand

At 10.46am on the 3rd of February 1931, Hawke's Bay was convulsed by two earthquake shocks registering 7.8 on the Richter Scale, and lasting 2 1/2 minutes. These were the forerunners of and estimated 525 shocks in the following fourteen days. In Napier, Hastings and Wairoa, there were 258 deaths and many more casualties. From recorded interviews and letters in the Hawke's Bay Cultural Trust Earthquake Archive, Helen McConnochie has selected excerpts from survivor's stories reflecting the effects on their lives of February 3, 1931. Helen McConnochie's main career was in Radio New Zealand as Presenter, Producer, Tutor and Script Editor.