Hawke’s Bay CDEMG Media Release
9 December 2011

Earthquake Memories for Survivors Afternoon Tea

Plans are well underway for the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake survivor’s morning tea to be held again next year on Sunday 12 February 2012.

In the last few years, the event has become more popular as survivors of the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake have taken time to commemorate this dramatic event in their lives.

The afternoon tea will again be at Napier Boys High, starting at 2pm with doors open at 1.15pm.

The afternoon tea has some traditions including musical entertainment, a guest speaker on the history of the earthquake, and the cutting of the Mayor’s cake by the oldest and youngest survivors, before afternoon tea is served.

At next year’s event, there will be an opportunity for guests to meet up with people from their old neighbourhoods.

The event is organised by Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group with Napier City Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council as key organisers. Napier Boys High provides the venue and assistance, and Red Cross and Art Deco Trust assist with registrations and afternoon tea.

The Hawke’s Bay Earthquake occurred on 3 February 1931 at 10.47 am. It was measured at 7.8 M on the Richter scale and was centred north of Napier. The quake lasted over 2 minutes and levelled churches, schools, offices and homes, and in Napier was followed by a fire that destroyed most of the central downtown area. 256 people died as a result of this event.

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