GeoNet beta

You're viewing phase one of the GeoNet beta site. Features and content may change. Read this news article to find out what's happening. www.geonet.org.nz continues to run as usual.

Magnitude 4.6

Thursday December 15, 1983 - 9:56 AM, 25 km south of Rotorua
Shaking The estimated intensity of ground shaking near the earthquake's epicentre.
Light
Depth The distance below the Earth's surface where the earthquake originated.
5 km
Quality An indication of how reliable the earthquake's location and details are, based on the amount and quality of data available.
Best

This earthquake reached its greatest intensities around Waiotapu and the Waikite Valley.

Isoseismal map of the Waiotapu earthquake. Courtesy Atlas of isoseismal maps of New Zealand earthquakes (2nd edition): Downes, G.L.; Dowrick, D.J.
Hide caption

Isoseismal map of the Waiotapu earthquake. Courtesy Atlas of isoseismal maps of New Zealand earthquakes (2nd edition): Downes, G.L.; Dowrick, D.J.

Twenty months of local swarms preceded the earthquake that struck Waiotapu on 15 December, 1983. The quake was also felt in Rotorua, Tokoroa and Wairakei, but reached its greatest intensities around Waiotapu and the Waikite Valley. In this region roads built on loose or uncompacted material were damaged, and boulders up to 2m wide were dislodged from road cuttings along state Highway 5. The quake also triggered a landslide on the western face of Mt. Paeroa1.

1Smith, E.G.C.; Scott, B.J.; Latter, J.H. 1984. Bulletin of the New Zealand National Society for Earthquake Engineering, 17(4): 272-79