Stories
New Zealand's Most Devastating Landslide
The New Zealand landslide that caused the most loss of life occurred on the south-western shore of Lake Taupo, below the volcanic springs of Mt. Kakaramea and, fatefully, above the Maori village of Te Rapa.
The Reverend Richard Taylor recounted that an “unusually rainy season occasioned a large landslip” on the mountain behind Te Rapa in 1846. The slip dammed a stream which, three days later, “burst its barriers, and, with irresistible force, swept rocks, trees and earth with it into the lake”. The little settlement was buried with all its inhabitants, except for a few individuals who managed to flee in time.
After some time, the scar healed and was turned into fields used for growing kumara and corn. Another village, Waihi, grew up near the site of Te Rapa. Then, on the morning of 20 March 1910 the villagers heard something that sounded like cannon-fire.
Rushing outside, the people of Waihi saw a cloud of dust as another enormous landslide came crashing down the valley. They ran for their lives – this time all but one escaped.
The land, now seemingly unsafe for both living on and for cropping, was sold.
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