Hastings chartered accountant and author Michael Fowler has set up a website aimed at gathering information about the effects of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake on Hastings. He is preparing a book titled Disaster to Recover: The Hastings CBD 1931-1935 and is seeking material to help complete it. "While writing another bookI noticed that little attention had been given to Hastings and the 1931 'quake. It is often referred to as the 'Napier earthquake'. Its epicentre was out to sea near Napier, but it also wreaked havoc in Hastings." His idea for the book was to take 15 block plans of Hastings as they were in 1931 and write about the businesses, and the people, affected by the earthquake. He has started the website also to let people know what the book is about, the progress he is making and details of how to pre-order it (it is planned for completion next March. Mr Fowler said he had already carried out about 200 interviews. The website is www.michaelfowler.co.nz
