The 1835 Auckland earthquake was a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that occurred sometime during 1835 in the
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
region of New Zealand.
The
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...
was caused by movement along the
Wairoa North Fault, which runs through the area. At the time, the settlement of Auckland was still quite small, and there are limited records of the specific damage caused by the earthquake. However, historical accounts suggest that the earthquake caused significant shaking and rumbling in the area, and it is possible that some buildings or structures may have been damaged or collapsed. Despite this, there are no records of major damage or casualties resulting from the earthquake. The 1835 Auckland earthquake remains an important event in the region's history, particularly as it highlights the seismic activity that can occur in the area due to the presence of faults such as the Wairoa North Fault.
Earthquake
The
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...
shock was felt as far away as
Kaitaia and
New Plymouth
New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...
. However, due to the lack of research and studies of this historical earthquake, the full impacts outside of the
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
region are unknown.
Geology
The earthquake occurred on the
Wairoa North Fault, a
normal fault
In geology, a fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock across which there has been significant displacement as a result of rock-mass movements. Large faults within Earth's crust result from the action of plate tectonic ...
that runs on the western side of the
Hunua Ranges.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located on the Waikopua segment of the Wairoa North Fault. The northern part of the Wairoa North Fault is considered to be its own distinct fault line, with a high level of certainty.
The Wairoa North Fault is additionally part of the
Hauraki Rift, a
rift that extends from the
Taupo Rift all the way up towards the
Hauraki Gulf.
Seismic intensity
It was rated as VI–VII on the
Modified Mercalli intensity scale in the central regions of Auckland. However, in the area around the earthquake's epicenter, it was described as "severe," which would classify its intensity at VIII.
See also
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List of earthquakes in New Zealand
This is a list of large earthquakes that have occurred in New Zealand. Only earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or greater are listed, except for a few that had a moderate impact. Aftershocks are not included, unless they were of great signifi ...
*
Kerepehi Fault
The Kerepehi Fault (also known as the Kerepēhi Fault) is a NeS-to NWeSE-striking normal fault system in the North Island of New Zealand aligned with the Hauraki rift valley that produced the Firth of Thames and the Hauraki Plains. The Kerepehi F ...
*
Hauraki Rift
*
Wairoa North Fault
*
Auckland Volcanic Field
The Auckland volcanic field is an area of monogenetic volcanoes covered by much of the metropolitan area of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, located in the North Island. The approximately 53 volcanoes in the field have produced a diverse a ...
References
{{Earthquakes in New Zealand
Earthquakes in New Zealand