Survivor Stories

The 1931 Napier Earthquake was one of the most devastating natural disasters in Aotearoa New Zealand's history, with 256 deaths and a city left in ruins. In this talking heads documentary made for MTG Hawke's Bay, five survivors — children and teenagers at the time — give firsthand accounts of the monumental day and its aftermath. Director/producer Gaylene Preston includes rousing sound design amongst the interviews, giving a sense of how an earthquake of that magnitude would sound. Preston would later expand upon the topic of the Napier quake in her Qantas-nominated doco Earthquake! 

Our elders, when they came back that night, they had a kōrero on the marae for everybody to come. Come out of your homes and come and stay on the marae, which they did. The starting bringing their beds and their blankets and things.

– Napier local Hana Cotter

Key Cast & Crew

Heather Small

Editor

Waka Attewell

Camera Operator

Gaylene Preston

Producer, Director

Michael Hedges

Sound Post-Production

Terry Crayford

Composer

Mike Hopkins

Sound Post-Production