Story: Capital city

The 1855 Wellington earthquake

In this letter to a friend, Wellington merchant and Jewish congregation leader Abraham Hort gives a graphic description of the massive earthquake that struck Wairarapa and Wellington in January 1855. At the time, Wellington was being recommended as the site for the capital, and despite this disaster, it continued to be preferred because of its harbour and geographically central location.

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How to cite this page:

Stephen Levine, 'Capital city - A new capital', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/34164/the-1855-wellington-earthquake (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Stephen Levine, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Aug 2016