14 November 2016 : A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Culverden and Kaikoura in the North Canterbury area of the South Island . Two deaths have been reported . Moderate to significant damage occurred along the East Coast of central New Zealand , from Christchurch all the way through Wellington . The seabed near Kaikoura was raised 2.5 meters in some places
7.8 magnitude
2016 Kaikoura earthquake
Shaky Isles