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Maori gathered the unexpected harvest for the next two days until putrefaction set in. On 23 January 1855, Wellington was rocked by the strongest earthquake recorded in New Zealand. Intensity of the earthquake The evening of 23 January 1855 was the end of a two-day holiday, the 15th anniversary of Wellingtonâs founding. To get the best out of your simulation consider what you would like to find out before you start. 1855 earthquake Moon over Paekakariki Hill. 1863 HMS Orpheus shipwreck 2015. In fact, the land and sea floor near the harbour rose up about 1 - 1.5 metres. Buildings and chimneys fell and big fissures opened in the land. It was the end of a holiday weekend celebrating this milestone and most people were at home relaxing. The Modified Mercalli (MM) scale is a measure of intensity based on the effects of the earthquake on people and buildings. This 1860 photograph looks south along Wellingtonâs Lambton Quay, with the uplifted 1855 beach. 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