Oral History Accounts of the 1931 Napier Earthquake
From Oral History in New Zealand: A Directory of Collections 1992
Produced by the National Oral History Association of NZ (NOHANZ)
in association with the Oral History Centre, Alexander Turnbull
Library.

The date ranges given for each person reflect the time period
covered by the interview. The recordings were made by the Friends
of the Napier Library Society. Contact Napier Public Library.
The interviews are generally unrestricted for private research.


ATKINS, Dorothy (Mrs) (1903-1990)
Married at Havelock North 1924. She and her husband started
married life as sharemilkers, and then leased 40 acres at
Ruapiri to run cows. She later shifted to Greenmeadows where
she milked cows and raised her family. She later started a milk
run with a horse and cart, with the assistance of her family.

BAKER, Alfred Joseph (Joe) (1902-1989)
Spent his childhood in Napier, left school early and took a
job on a farm out of Napier.

BEER, Harold (1916-1990)
His family shifted from Riverton to Napier in 1930 and he joined
the Daily Telegraph.

BLAIR, Isobel May (Mrs) (1916-1989)
Born in Napier and lived at 1 Battery Road. Her father drove
horses for the Harbour Board. She went to Napier Central 
School and then to Technical College. The earthquake struck on 
her first day at Technical College.

BUTLER, John Edward (1916-1990)
Spent his early childhood on a farm at Rissington, Hawkes Bay,
and went to Waihau School. His father had to walk off the farm
in the 1920s during the depression. He came to Taradale and
went to the local primary school and then to Napier Technical
College. He got his first job with the Harbour Board, and then
on farms.

DALTON, Douglas (1913-1989)
Born in Napier, youngest of 13 children. Schooled at Napier.
Started work as a plasterer and worked in the trade all through
his working life. Was an All Black.

DYKES, Helen McAllan (Miss) (1909-1988)
Born in Napier and went to school there. At 18 she began teaching
singing and speech, and taught for 61 years. She was a radio
"aunt" on local radio. Later awarded the QSM for her services
to music and teaching.

GILLIES, Annie Elizabeth (Mrs) (1908-1989)
Spent her childhood in Port Ahuriri, Napier. She gives a history
of her family, the RUDDELLs. After her schooldays at the Port,
she worked at the McGRUARs Drapery until she married.

HOHEPA, John Hone (1919-1990)
Born at Te Haroto where his father was a dairy farmer. When he
was eight his family shifted to Whare Rangi. He walked three
miles to school in Puketapu. He gives a vivid account of the
earthquake while at school.

LEITCH, Aileen Mary (Mrs)
Born in Napier 1925. Describes growing up in Napier, schooling
and the earthquake.

McDONALD, Emse Hilda (Mrs) (1916-1989)
She spent her childhood in Napier with her twin sister, and
went to Napier Girls High School.

McKENZIE, Stuart Norman
Spent all his life in Napier. Was attending Napier Technical
College at the time of the earthquake - on his first day as
Head Prefect. He was buried beneath piles of bricks of the
collapsed shool and was badly injured.

MILLER, Arthur William (1903-1988)
Spent his early childhood in Waipawa, and went to school there.
He got his first job in Hastings and was in Napier at the time
of the earthquake.

MORRIS, Mabel Constance (Miss) (1906-1989)
Spent her childhood in Napier, and trained to become a Plunket
Nurse. She was a Plunket Nurse for 31 years in Napier and the
surrounding area, and received a citizenship award.

NORTHEY, Frederick (1910-1989)
Spent his childhood in Westshore in a family of nine. Schooled
at Westshore Primary and Napier Technical College. He used to
go boating as a child in the inner harbour and on the river.
He joined the family shipyard at Westshore and took it over
after the war.

PREBBLE, Norman Leslie (Tom) (1922-1989)
Born in Napier, the 6th of 12 children. He went to school in
Port Ahuriri, and in Napier went to Technical College and Te
Aute College. He was a cadet with the NZ Insurance Co. and later
became the manager of NZI in Napier.

PURCELL, Florence Esther (1903-1989)
She taught at Napier Central School on the day of the earthquake, 
and later at Nelson Park School.

ROBSON, Frank Donald QSO (1912-1991)
Spent his childhood in Meeanee and Taradale. His father was
the Hawkes Bay Acclimatisation Officer. He went to school in
Taradale, and got his first job in an orchard, and then did
contracting work around the district. He worked on the Westshore
lagoon after the earthquake.

SIMMONDS, Rita Mavis (Miss) (1915-1990)
She spent her early childhood in Napier, and had a close
association with the Te Awa Swimming and Lifesaving Club
formed by her father. She was a champion Hawkes Bay and NZ
swimmer, and coached swimming and acrobatics for about 60 years.

SPRIGGS, Ernest Ronald (1889-1989)
Spent his childhood and schooldays in Napier and got his first
job with the family business.

STEVENSON, Hugh Kenneth (Jock) (1917-1989)
Spent his childhood and early schooldays in Napier. His first
job was at the Daily Telegraph newspaper in Napier and he
subsequently worked his way up to chief reporter.

TARADALE Sunset Club (1930-1940)
This collective interview recorded vivid memories of the
earthquake and some good descriptions of coping during the
Depression.

WATTERS, Frederic R. (1899-1988)
Came to Napier in 1931 three weeks before the earthquake - to
work for the Napier City Council as assistant town clerk.
Subsequently became town clerk and served for many years until
his retirement.

WHEATLEY-DAWSON, Hazel Daphne (Mrs) (1909-1988)
Spent her early life in Taradale and Wharerangi. She married Mr 
WHEATLEY and spent her married life dairy farming.

WILLIAMSON, Doris Thelma (Miss) (1906-1990)
Spent her childhood at Taradale. Her father was the headmaster
of Taradale Primary School. After leaving college she joined
architect J Louis HAY as a draughtswoman. Includes recollections
of the planning and designing of many of the art deco buildings
after the earthquake.

X, (Mr) (1924-1988)
Spent his early childhood and school days in Napier. His first
job was with his father in the building trade, and remained in
the family business for the rest of his life.