New Zealand has a long history of earthquakes . Since the European settlement , the largest on record was a magnitude 8.2 ML major earthquake that occurred on 23 January 1855 near the Wairarapa plains of the North Island . Another destructive magnitude 7.8 ML earthquake struck the region near Hawke 's Bay on 3 February 1931 ; it is the deadliest earthquake recorded on the island to date , greatly affecting much of Napier and Hastings
destructive magnitude 7.8 ML earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
June 2011 Christchurch earthquake