Damage to Blaketown, Greymouth from earthquake.

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DescriptionOn the 17th June 1929, at 10.17am, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the northern South Island. It was felt in cities and towns all over New Zealand. Nelson, Westport and Grey mouth reported damage, but it was half a day before authorities realised that the worst hit region was Murchison.

It was caused by movement along the White Creek Fault west of Murchison. Land moved upward as much as 4.5 metres.

When the main shock struck, wooden houses warped, twisted and shifted from their piles and chimney's and water tanks collapsed.

Landslides blocked many rivers including the Matiri, Maruia, Mokihinui and Buller. The landslide dam on the Mokihinui River later burst, the resulting flood seriously damaged Seddonville.

A massive landslide swept over the Busch and Morel homes, killing 4 people and damming the Matakitaki River. In the Maruia Valley a landslip pushed Gibson's home across a road into a gorge, killing three people. Another swept the Holman home into the river, killing two people. Of the 17 people who died in the earthquake, 14 were killed by landslides and 2 in a coal mine collapse.

Nelson, Greymouth and Westport had many damaged chimney's and brick buildings. The tower at Nelson College collapsed injuring two boys. In Karamea damage was minor but numerous slips blocked the coastal road and food ran short. No outside help arrived until an aviator landed a Tiger Moth plane on the beach two weeks later. Vehicles could not reach the town for several months.

In an era when road work was carried out by pick and shovel, many roads buried by slips in the Buller region did not re-open for months. The Westport Reefton road was closed for 18 months.Map^[1]

Damage to Blaketown, Greymouth from earthquake.

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Location (city or town)BlaketownLandmark (Place)BlaketownEventMurchison earthquake 1929

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Damage to Blaketown, Greymouth from earthquake.