M 5.1, Waikato, December 5 1976

This earthquake struck the rural area around Korakonui, near the Waikato River.

• Location: Korakonui
• Date (NZ Daylight Time): Sunday, December 5 1976 at 5:57 pm
• Epicentre: 38.11°S, 175.54°E
• Focal Depth: 12 km
• Maximum Intensity: MM 8
• Magnitude: M_L 5.1

This earthquake was felt in most places west of the Waikato River, alarming the nearby communities. Scattered minor damage extended from Hamilton to Te Kuiti, but the most damage occurred near the settlement of Korakonui, where several houses lost chimneys and suffered other significant damage¹.

¹Eiby, G.A. 1977. Bulletin of the New Zealand National Society for Earthquake Engineering, 10: 167-169