Canterbury earthquake

Graphic showing two fault lines

6.3 magnitude earthquake part of aftershock sequence
February the 22nd's devastating magnitude 6.3 earthquake centred southeast of Christchurch was part of the aftershock sequence that has been occurring since the September magnitude 7.1 quake near Darfield, 40km west of the city, an earthquake geologist said today. (Read more in the press release).

A new video with Martin Reyners talking about the "Slap-down" effect with the Christchurch earthquake.

GNS Science has started issuing a daily graphic showing the probability of strong earthquake shaking in the mid part of the South Island between Cheviot and Timaru and across to the west coast.

GNS seismologist Bill Fry explains the February 2011 aftershocks in Christchurch.

GeoNet Data Centre Manager Kevin Fenaughty explains seismic waves and what's been observed in Christchurch

The information below is about the event on the 4th of September 2010 popularly known as the "Darfield Earthquake".

In the early hours of Saturday morning on 4 September 2010, people in Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury region were jolted awake by the most damaging earthquake in New Zealand since the deadly magnitude 7.8 Hawke's Bay (Napier) earthquake in 1931. There was one important difference-this time there has been no loss of life. Luck played a part-the quake occurred at a time when everyone was home in bed and the streets were largely deserted. However, the lack of casualties was mainly due to New Zealand's strict building codes, which aim to ensure that buildings do not become deathtraps in a major quake. Learn more about the shaking, liquefaction, aftershocks and how the fault was found - here.

Map of fault trace

Faultlines, National Radio's special feature

Disaster researchers in Canterbury
GNS Science disaster researcher Julia Becker blogs about her experiences in Canterbury.

GeoNet's rapid response seismic team responds
A short pictorial account of what happens when GeoNet's Rapid Response Seismic team go into the field.

Thanks for your help.
We have been overwhelmed with responses from people willing to house our miniature seismometers. We now have 200 of them installed in Christchurch homes collecting valuable information.
Thankyou. (More details here).

These images are derived from ALOS data that is © Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ("JAXA") and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") (2010). The data has been used with the permission of JAXA and METI and the Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) ("the Commonwealth"). JAXA, METI and the Commonwealth have not evaluated the data as altered and incorporated in this paper, and therefore give no warranty regarding its accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose.

Satellite radar results
See the latest satellite radar results for the Darfield quake.

Hydrogeologic effects of the earthquake
Help us collect information about the effect of the earthquake on Canterbury groundwater and irrigation supply.

Press releases

Christchurch quake map link, from Paul Nicholls - University of Canterbury

Images

latestaftershockmap

Click on this image to see the latest aftershock map

GeoNet Resources

Links to central and local government agencies and others
supporting the response to the Canterbury earthquake

GNS site - learning about earthquakes info

Build your own animated earthquake map
If you have Google Earth, download our KML file. Detailed instructions on building an animated map with our data here.

Follow the latest quakes on Twitter or via email.