When the earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck at 10.47 a.m., many buildings in central Napier and Hastings collapsed.
Taradale
South-western suburb of Napier, which was once a town in its own right. Ōtātara pā in Taradale was an important early site of Māori occupation. It was taken over by Ngāti Kahungunu when they settled in the district in the 16th century. William Colenso purchased land in the district in 1857 and leased the site of modern day Taradale to Henry Allen, who named it after his birthplace, Tara, in Ireland. The township developed in a piecemeal, unplanned fashion.
Meaning of place name
An early sheep run was known as the Tara station, the name Taradale later being given to the settlement.
