Kaikōura earthquake

The Kaikōura earthquake occurred on November 14, 2016, off New Zealand's east coast. It was a powerful magnitude 7.8 quake caused by a sudden slip along the boundary of two tectonic plates, leading to significant ground shaking and deformation. The earthquake affected a large area, damaging roads, railway lines, and infrastructure, and caused about 2 fatalities. It also triggered numerous aftershocks and a regional tsunami warning. The event highlighted the complex fault systems in Zealandia and underscored the importance of resilient infrastructure and earthquake preparedness in seismic zones.