Nov 10 2008 - October roundup

Operations

The equipment hut and satellite data telemetry mast for the tsunami gauge at Lottin Point, East Cape.

• The Lottin Point (East Cape) tsunami gauge was constructed and commissioned.
• A new seismic site at Army Bay (ABAZ), Whangaparoa, north of Auckland was made operational.

Earthquakes

• The most significant earthquake of the month occurred on October 25, magnitude 4.7, 10 km west of Hastings, 30 km deep. It was felt throughout the Hawke's Bay region, with a maximum intensity of MM 5 in Hastings.
• The preliminary locations of September's earthquakes are shown below.

Reported Landslides

Tuesday October 7

A diver installing the protective cover for the pressure sensors at Lottin Point.

• A small slip was reported on SH 2 on the Featherston side of the Rimutaka Hill.

Wednesday October 8

• Slip on SH 47 in Tongariro Forest Park partially blocking road, 8 km south from intersection of SH 46 and SH 47.

Thursday October 9

• Slip closed road to the Waiohine Gorge near Carterton.
• SH 3 Mount Messenger closed by a slip on the Mokau side of Mt Messenger tunnel. Road re-opened for one lane after a few hours.

Thursday October 16

• Large slip reported by a helicopter pilot destroyed several hundreds of metres of the Dusky Track between Lakes Hauroko and Manapouri in Fiordland. The section between Centre Pass and Kintail Hut was reported to be impassable by the Department of Conservation, but the walk-wire bridge over the Seaforth River just escaped damage.

Wednesday October 23

• Rocks on road SH 3, Manawatu Gorge, Woodville end.

Thursday October 24

• “Large” slip briefly blocked SH 3 Manawatu Gorge between Ashhurst and Woodville. Manawatu Evening Standard says it was about the middle of the gorge and occurred at 8:30 am. Road opened to one lane by 9:30 and both lanes were open by 1 pm. “About 15 truckloads” of spoil removed.

Felt earthquakes of
September 2008.

Shallow earthquakes of
September 2008.

Deep earthquakes of
September 2008.