James Ford: Strong turnout for Hawke's Bay earthquake commemoration

Hawke's Bay Today news editor James Ford. Photo / File

For many of us we can only imagine the destruction of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.

It was the 87th anniversary of what remains New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster on Saturday.

The shake struck at 10.47am on a Tuesday. It took the lives of 256 people.

As time goes on, death tolls have a habit of becoming a number.
Something which we read, but that many of us have no connection to.

That is why the story of 91-year-old Alaister Whyte is so very important.
He is one of an ever-decreasing few who witnessed the devastating loss of life first hand and, therefore, helps us remember and empathise with those who lost their lives and the families that were torn apart.

Mr Whyte was 4 years old and had gone with his mother to Roachs' department store when the building began to crumble.

His mother quickly put him under a counter for protection.
Seventeen people lost their lives in the store - the most deaths in any single building during the earthquake.

Meanwhile, his sister and one of his cousins were across the road at a hairdresser's where both died.

Mr Whyte still recalls his mother's tears.
Despite his increasing years, he continues to attend the yearly commemoration.

We must never allow the stories of those who suffered so much on our region's darkest day to be forgotten.

And we must also be thankful for the strength and efforts of those who worked tirelessly in the rebuild to shape a city that we can enjoy and be proud of today.