The quake that shook NZ
No damage, but reminder to be prepared
The building is solid concrete. I happened to be standing still when I felt the floor moving like a slight vibration. Dianne Reader was volunteering in the Oncology Unit at Whangārei Hospital when the quake struck.
So I actually woke from a nap into the earthquake and it wasn’t even in the same island as me . . . holy sh**! Tweet by the Hits presenter Brodie Kane in Christchurch.
They had never felt anything like it so were quite scared. I was writing on the whiteboard when it started to shake like a drunk person. A Napier lecturer Dr Ram Roy said he was teaching a class of international students when the earthquake hit and they were terrified.
[It’s a] timely reminder of some of the basics in and around dropping, covering and holding. Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi
Mother nature wasn’t going to let the royal couple steal the spotlight for too long, sending Kiwis a sharp reminder to be prepared for earthquakes.
A magnitude 6.2 quake struck 25km southwest of Taumarunui in the central North Island around 3.13pm yesterday, at a depth of 207km.
Shaking was felt throughout the nation with nearly 16,000 people indicating they felt the quake, predominantly in the lower North Island and upper South Island.
Wellingtonians reported it lasted for around 30 seconds to a minute, many thankful the quake was more of a gentle roll than a frantic shake.
Wellington-based Herald reporter Lucy Bennett said the shaking was quite gentle.
“There was a gentle shake and a jolt. It kept rolling on and then there was another jolt,” Bennett said.
She went outside following the shaking to see if there was any damage and said “life was continuing as normal”.
International media were quick to react to the royal couple “surviving” the shake.
Prince Harry and Meghan were preparing to meet-and-greet Auckland locals at the Viaduct Harbour when the earthquake struck.
The Express said there were no reports of the Duke or Duchess of Sussex being impacted by the earthquake.
Elsewhere, the Sun reported more than 9000 people had reported feeling the earthquake within 10 minutes of it striking.
Parliament was suspended temporarily due to the quake, Deputy Speaker Anne Tolley stepping up and making the decision. It was resumed about 3.40pm.
The gentle but prolonged shaking meant much of the nation was spared from any damage, Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi said.
He said the Ministry of Civil Defence got in touch with the Manawatu/Whanganui Civil Defence group and confirmed there had been no reports of any damage.
Faafoi said the quake was a “timely reminder of some of the basics in and around dropping, covering and holding”. He said it had “obviously given people a bit of a shake. Make sure you’re checking on your neighbours, friends and family.” He was not aware of any increased risk of volcanic activity as a result of the quake.
The earthquake was felt as far down the country as Christchurch and as far north as Auckland, GeoNet reported.
A Christchurch Fire and Emergency spokesman said his whole office based in the CBD felt the quake.
Olivia Allison felt the quake in Palmerston North.
“Wholly [sic] crap we just had an epic quake in Palmy. First big one since I’ve been back. Just keeps going,” she said on Twitter.
A Christchurch man said the quake felt “yuck”. He said he was six floors up in a concrete-clad government building that began to sway.
Back in Wellington, the quake temporarily impacted flight plans, with several planes delayed to land and take off from the capital.