File:Pahiatua, c. 1931 (12784963335).jpg

Pahiatua at about 100 Main Street
On 5 March 1934, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook the lower North Island, causing widespread damage from Porangahau to Castlepoint. While the quake was centred in Pongaroa (epicentre 40.51 S, 176.29 E), it is historically known as the Pahiatua earthquake as the Wairarapa township of Pahiatua was very badly damaged. Over 600 chimneys were felled and over 400 houses needed other work, and brick gables and parapets came tumbling into the main street. Fortunately for some, the newly-built five-storey Tui Brewery building, clad in brick but built of reinforced concrete, survived without damage. One death was attributed to shock. Nearby Eketahuna also received considerable damage. Landslides along the coast also occurred. The 1934 quake is considered one of the top ten worst quakes in New Zealand's modern memory, joining the likes of the 1931 Napier earthquake and the 4 September 2010 Canterbury quake. Shown above is a photograph of pre-quake Pahiatua, c. 1931 The photograph is part of a series comprised of photographs both negatives and positives of Pahiatua prior to the Hawkes Bay earthquake and earthquake photographs from the Public Works Department. The series sits within the New Zealand Standards Institute (NZSI) holdings at Archives New Zealand. The NZSI was established as an independent body within the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. In 1939 the Institute was transferred to the Department of Industries and Commerce. The Standards Institute was replaced in 1965 by a new independent organisation, the Standards Association (SANZ), established under the Standards Act 1965. Archives Reference: AEKP 19040 ST25 1/1 (R17491702)

More information about earthquakes in New Zealand can be found here: www.library.mstn.govt.nz/1904-1934Earthquakes.php www.parliament.nz/en-nz/parl-support/research-papers/00PL...

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