Skip to main content

Story: Natural hazards – overview

Relief camp – Hawke’s Bay earthquake

Image
Relief camp – Hawke’s Bay earthquake

Many people lost their homes in the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake. This relief camp in Hastings was typical of several that were set up to provide emergency accommodation in tents for survivors.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Sydney Charles Smith Collection (PA-Group-00242)

Reference: 1/2-047883;G

by Sydney Charles Smith

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, Natural hazards – overview – Civil defence – coping with emergencies, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6907/relief-camp-hawkes-bay-earthquake (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, published 2 March 2009.