When the deadly earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck at 10.47 a.m., many buildings in central Napier and Hastings collapsed immediately. Roadside Stories: Hawke's Bay's big shake In 1931, New Zealand’s deadliest earthquake devastated the cities of Napier and Hastings. M 7.4 Hawke’s Bay Tue, Feb 3 1931 The 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake caused the largest loss of life and most extensive damage of any quake in New Zealand’s recorded history. Details History Story Technical Magnitude 5.4 earthquake causes strong shaking in Hawke's Bay • Source: 1 NEWS A magnitude 5.4 earthquake has caused strong shaking near Wairoa, Hawke's Bay … The quake was the third and strongest the Bay was hit with yesterday. 7.4 magnitude earthquake off New Zealand east coast felt widely in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, North Island - no tsunami threat 19 … Hawke's Bay was rattled by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake just after 9pm last night.