Story: Historic earthquakes

An account of the June earthquake

Tex Charteris remembers his experience on the Wairarapa coast during the June 1942 earthquake. Damage was widespread to roads and bridges in the region. Here a member of the Home Guard stands ready to warn travellers that the bridge is impassable.

Sound file: Oliver 'Tex' Charteris, interview by Hugo Manson for the NZOHA Martinborough Project, 1982 (18'03"–19'42"). Alexander Turnbull Library, OHT5-0684

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Evening Post Collection (PAColl-0614)
Reference: 1/2-123915-G

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.

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Historic earthquakes - The 1942 Wairarapa earthquakes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/speech/4716/an-account-of-the-june-earthquake (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 28 Mar 2011, updated 1 Nov 2017