The annual civic service to remember the impact of the 1931 earthquake will be held at Waiapu Cathedral, Napier on Sunday 1 February at 10am replacing the normal Sunday service.

It is a special time when Hawke’s Bay citizens remember the people who died in the disaster, the families who were affected, and the individuals and services who helped restore our community.

The service will be lead by the Acting Dean, the Right Rev’d Alister Hendery, in collaboration with the Mayor of Napier Richard, and leading service and emergency management personnel, along with families of those who experienced the earthquake.  

Everyone is welcome to attend this special service marking 95 years since the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook Hawke’s Bay on 3 February 1931 at 10.47am.  

The brick cathedral that was on the site of the current cathedral was destroyed in the 3 minutes of shaking. Much of downtown Napier was subsequently destroyed by aftershocks and the fires that raged unchecked. Across the region 256 people were killed, including children on their first day of school.

This service is an opportunity to share some moments of reflection on our city’s resilience in the face of earthquakes, storms and floods. The impacts of these events on our city and people’s lives continue to be felt today.  In past years survivors of the 1931 earthquake have attended this service, but since most have now died, their descendants often attend to acknowledge the impact the earthquake had on their families.

The Veronica Bell will be rung by a Royal NZ Navy representative – once for survivors, once for those not able to attend the service, and finally, for those who have died.

The service will be followed by refreshments. McGrath