Limestone shoreline and rock pools - Kaikoura NZ
Kaikoura New Zealand where the mountains meet the sea.
A devastating 7.8 earthquake hit Kaikoura and surrounding districts causing massive destruction just after midnight on the 14th November 2016.
Two people lost their lives. State Highway 1 that runs up and down the coast was completely blocked off by landsides and deep trenches in the road both north and south of Kaikoura. Many houses and businesses premises were wrecked; There was no communications, water or sewerage. The only way in or out for a few days was by air.
There were 1200 tourists stranded and they had to be either air lifted by helicopter or shipped by Navy frigate to Christchurch. The seabed has lifted up to 2 metres causing crayfish, paua and fish to be left high and dry and dying above the high water line.
The coastal township population of about 3.800 relies heavily on tourists, with its whale watch, dolphin & albatross encounter ventures, fishing charters, hunting, fishing, diving and attractions like the fur seal colony and sea birds such as hutton’s shearwaters and blue penguins. All of these ventures as well as the fishing and farming industry will be severely effected. SH1 and the railway (also destroyed) are major routes for freight and people travelling both North and South and there will be major disruptions and detours until the infrastructure is repaired.
Kaikoura is one of our favourite coastal areas and it seems SH1 may not be open for perhaps many months so we will miss our regular visits there until those repairs are made.
