ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
The Minister of Civil Defence Kris Faafoi announced on Tuesday, November 14, the opening of Kaikoura Harbour exactly one year after the deadly earthquake left it badly damaged.
“The harbour is the heart of Kaikoura, and today it is back in business,” Minister Faafoi said.
The Minister was speaking at the morning dawn services blessing led by te Runanga o Kaikoura at a restored multi-million South Bay Marina.
Speaking at the harbour opening, Minister Faafoi said the complex 7.8 magnitude earthquake ruptured 21 fault lines, generated a tsunami and rocked the top of the South Island and bottom of the North.
There have been mixed emotions throughout the recovery process of last one year after this sleepy seaside tourist town was rocked by massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake just around the midnight on November 14, 2016.
The strong earthquake was then followed by a 7 meters high tsunami wave.
Although human casualties were limited to only two that night, there were large-scale damages of the property and infrastructure of the tourist town, with many major roads including State Highway 1 being completely cut-off from the rest of the nation.
The closure of SH1, the Inland Kaikoura Road and the Main North Line railway had effectively cut off all land routes into Kaikoura.
The New Zealand Defence Forces have to despatch several helicopters and two naval vessels to provide relief supplies and carry out evacuation process.
Along with them, the naval vessels of several friendly nations, which were in the country at the time to participate in the 75th anniversary of Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), viz, HMCS Vancouver, HMAS Darwin, USS Sampson, United States Navy P-3 Orion, and two Kawasaki P-1s of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Air Patrol Squadron 3 were send to assist in the relief and rescue operations.
"The earthquake had created a truly unique set of challenges. The land movements and shaking were among the strongest in our history, and the earthquakes had a devastating effect on many people, whanau, communities and businesses across Kaikoura, Hurunui, Marlborough and Wellington," Minister Faafoi said.
“The community showed out in force because they know the marina re-opening means so much to the town. People are truly appreciative of the mammoth effort to get the harbour back in business," Minister added further.
The Minister of Civil Defence Kris Faafoi announced on Tuesday, November 14, the opening of Kaikoura Harbour exactly one year after the deadly earthquake left it badly damaged.
“The harbour is the heart of Kaikoura, and today it is back in business,” Minister Faafoi said.
The Minister was speaking...
The Minister of Civil Defence Kris Faafoi announced on Tuesday, November 14, the opening of Kaikoura Harbour exactly one year after the deadly earthquake left it badly damaged.
“The harbour is the heart of Kaikoura, and today it is back in business,” Minister Faafoi said.
The Minister was speaking at the morning dawn services blessing led by te Runanga o Kaikoura at a restored multi-million South Bay Marina.
Speaking at the harbour opening, Minister Faafoi said the complex 7.8 magnitude earthquake ruptured 21 fault lines, generated a tsunami and rocked the top of the South Island and bottom of the North.
There have been mixed emotions throughout the recovery process of last one year after this sleepy seaside tourist town was rocked by massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake just around the midnight on November 14, 2016.
The strong earthquake was then followed by a 7 meters high tsunami wave.
Although human casualties were limited to only two that night, there were large-scale damages of the property and infrastructure of the tourist town, with many major roads including State Highway 1 being completely cut-off from the rest of the nation.
The closure of SH1, the Inland Kaikoura Road and the Main North Line railway had effectively cut off all land routes into Kaikoura.
The New Zealand Defence Forces have to despatch several helicopters and two naval vessels to provide relief supplies and carry out evacuation process.
Along with them, the naval vessels of several friendly nations, which were in the country at the time to participate in the 75th anniversary of Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), viz, HMCS Vancouver, HMAS Darwin, USS Sampson, United States Navy P-3 Orion, and two Kawasaki P-1s of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Air Patrol Squadron 3 were send to assist in the relief and rescue operations.
"The earthquake had created a truly unique set of challenges. The land movements and shaking were among the strongest in our history, and the earthquakes had a devastating effect on many people, whanau, communities and businesses across Kaikoura, Hurunui, Marlborough and Wellington," Minister Faafoi said.
“The community showed out in force because they know the marina re-opening means so much to the town. People are truly appreciative of the mammoth effort to get the harbour back in business," Minister added further.
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