Ninety years on: Hawke s Bay earthquake to be commemorated
25 Jan, 2021 10:16 PM
3 minutes to read
The old Post Office building in Hastings on the corner of Queen and Russell Streets, after the quake. Photo / Supplied
The old Post Office building in Hastings on the corner of Queen and Russell Streets, after the quake. Photo / Supplied
Hawkes Bay Today
By: Gianina Schwanecke
Ninety years after the 1931 Hawke s Bay earthquake, a number of events have been organised to commemorate the sombre anniversary.
On the morning of February 3, 1931, the Hawke s Bay region was rocked by a 7.8 magnitude quake that practically levelled the city of Napier and killed nearly 250 people.
A national campaign encouraging people to get to know their neighbours now has a local face.
Annual initiative Neighbours Day Aotearoa began in 2009, and this year runs from March 20 to 30.
Duntroon woman Jan Keeling said she initially signed up to be the regional “activator” because she was already heavily involved in trying to bring her community together and create connection, and was keen to collaborate with other like-minded people.
“I saw it advertised . . . and I thought ‘I do that anyway’, but I’m always keen to learn more about how other people do it,” Mrs Keeling said.
“My role is not to organise events, it is to promote the concept of organising events to meet your neighbours.”