Historical Disasters By Region
Earthquakes:
•1974 - a magnitude 6.0 earthquake at Opunake cracks chimneys and walls, and many shops in New Plymouth and Hawera report goods thrown from shelves.
topVolcanoes
•1755 - the last known eruption of Mount Taranaki. The mountain is still smoking when Captain James Cook sights it in 1769.
Storms:
•1988 - a state of emergency is declared because of damage caused by Cyclone Bola.
•1990 - Cyclone Hilda causes much damage.
•1990 - tornado damages homes in Bell Block.
•1995 - tornado damages homes in Inglewood.
•2004 - a tornado at Motonui destroys a house, killing two people.
•2007 - numerous tornados strike the entire region, damaging many homes and businesses.
•2008 - tornado damages homes in Bell Block.
Floods:
•1965 - floods in Waitara.
•1971 - floods in Waitara.
•1971 - the main shopping area of New Plymouth is evacuated as floodwaters cover the city.
•1990 - "the big wet" floods New Plymouth and Waitara.
•2004 - Febuary floods in Waitotara, entire town evacuated.
•2006 - July floods in Waitotara and South Taranaki.
Non-natural Disasters:
• 1886 - the Stratford Fire Storm destroys homes and farms.
• 1918/19 - Spanish flu, our worst disaster, kills over 8,000 New Zealanders.
•1957/58 - the Asian flu comes in two waves, and affects about 70-80% of the population, though few people die.
•1968/69 - the Hong Kong flu reaches New Zealand. As it occurs mainly during the Christmas holidays, it does not spread as fast amongst schoolchildren and their families.
•2009 - human cases of non-seasonal influenza A (H1N1) 'swine flu' resulting from human to human transmission are identified in Mexico in April, with subsequent spread to many other countries, including New Zealand. All of New Zealand’s cases have recently returned from travel in affected areas or are close contacts of cases. New Zealand continues its efforts to contain the influenza A (H1N1) swine flu virus and prevent community transmission. By late May case numbers in New Zealand remain stable, but the number of overseas cases being notified to the World Health Organisation continues to increase.