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Kiwi of the Week

Vincent Aspey

When nine-year-old Vincent Aspey persuaded his mother to buy a violin he had spotted in a second-hand shop she was dubious that he would practice, let alone come to be described as ‘synonymous with orchestral development in New Zealand’.

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Today in History

23 January

1855 Massive earthquake hits Wellington region

A magnitude 8.2 earthquake lifted the southern end of the Rimutaka Range by 6 m. Land raised from the harbour today forms part of Wellington's CBD. more...

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New Zealand disasters timeline

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'Earthquake at Wellington' (PapersPast)
Wellington earthquake (Chch City Libraries)
Earthquakes (Wgton City Libraries)
The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake (Te Ara)
Wellington Earthquakes (1966 encyclopaedia)

1951 Disastrous centennial yacht race begins

Twenty yachts left Wellington bound for Lyttelton in a race to celebrate Canterbury's centenary. Following a severe southerly storm only one yacht officially finished the race. Two others were lost along with their 10 crew members more...