Gisborne among the shakiest places in NZ

File picture

GISBORNE and the East Coast has witnessed a surprisingly consistent number of earthquakes every year for the past five years, with more than 9000 quakes recorded since 2011.

Speaking to The Gisborne Herald, GNS Science public information officer Caroline Little said over the past 12 months Gisborne had experienced 1984 earthquakes on land and offshore.

“What we define as the Gisborne area is basically the whole of the East Cape and then also out to sea a little bit," Ms Little said.

“The year before that there were 1464, and the year before that there were 1893 from November 2012 to November 2013. The year before that were 2090 and before that 1895. So, apart from that previous year, when there were fewer, they all seem to be hovering near the 1900 to 2000 range.”

Now the aftershocks from the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes were reducing in number, Mrs Little said Gisborne/East Coast was equal to Napier and Hastings as the shakiest cities.

“Following the Canterbury earthquakes, there would have been more earthquakes there but because those quakes are dying down, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay are having comparatively more quakes now.”

Over the last five years there were 76 earthquakes of Magnitude 4 or more, with two 5.1 magnitude quakes the highest. Both of those were located offshore from Te Araroa on November 30, 2014 and on September 2, 2011.

It was expected there would be a large number of earthquakes here, given the region’s proximity to the Australian and Pacific plate boundary. There had been a surprising similarity in the number of tremors occurring each year.

“It is expected. All down the East Coast of the North Island, because both plates are moving.”