6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks New Zealand

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand on October 30. The report from the New Zealand Geological Society said the tremor originated 207 kilometers deep and about 25 kilometers southwest of Taumaranui, a town of about 5,500 located in the central part of the North Island. There were no reports of significant damage or injuries, according to New Zealand Civil Defense Minister Kris Faafoi.

New Zealand is no stranger to earthquakes. It lies at the intersection of the Australian and Pacific Plates. This meeting of tectonic plates results in numerous faults, or places where the friction between two plates leads to occasional large displacements of rock. Two of New Zealand’s most active faults are the Alpine Fault and the Wellington Fault. As a result of these faults, New Zealand experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, with only around 200 able to be felt by humans, reports the New Zealand Geological Society. Those that are felt, like the one on October 30, are usually harmless. However, that is not always the case.

The government-sponsored encyclopedia on New Zealand history recounts the various impactful earthquakes that the island country has experienced. In 1848, an 8.2-magnitude earthquake shook the southern part of the North Island. Although many buildings were damaged across New Zealand, there were only nine recorded fatalities. The next remarkable quake waited until 1929 to strike. At around 10:00 AM, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked the South Island, causing massive landslides that took the lives of 14 people. Two years later, and another 7.8-magnitude earthquake would unfold in the Hawke’s Bay region, leaving 256 dead and thousands injured. This increase in mortality relative to previous quakes was because the earthquake hit relatively close to the populated cities of Napier and Hastings. For the next 60 years or so, earthquakes in New Zealand were quite tame, resulting in minimal death and insignificant damage. That, however, changed on February 22, 2011. In the mid-afternoon, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck with an epicenter just 10 kilometers southeast of Christchurch, New Zealand’s third-most-populous city, and 185 were killed.  

Luckily, the October 30 earthquake ended up being harmless. Although no one was hurt and no property damage occurred, the quake left its mark on New Zealand’s history. The country’s parliament was in session when the earthquake happened in the late afternoon. According to the New Zealand Herald, the session was immediately suspended over safety concerns. Coincidentally, Prince Harry and Meghan, duchess of Sussex, who had already been in New Zealand for the past two weeks, were in Auckland strolling along the Viaduct Harbor. There was immediate concern surrounding the royal couple’s safety, but it was reported by the New Zealand news outlet Stuff that they didn’t feel the earthquake.  

Although this 6.2-magnitude earthquake was relatively small, it serves as a reminder that New Zealand just happens to rest in a particularly restless region. Despite finding itself unharmed on October 30, it has not always been so fortunate.