July 19, 2013
Rangitane House stands up to Ruaumoko
The Cook Strait region had a visit from Ruaumoko this morning, with a 5.7 earthquake being felt from Christchurch to New Plymouth.
GNS Science says the severe quake was 8km deep and centred in the strait 30km east of Seddon, in Marlborough.
The tallest building in Blenheim is Rangitane House, and Rangitane development manager Richard Bradley says the converted postal centre swayed but is still standing.
"It’s always fun being in an older building but we have been telling people since we bought it that it has 65 to 68 percent earthquake rating back in the days when the Ministry of Works built dams and buildings, so everyone seems quite happy to be in our building. I know a few in other buildings around town that don't have our earthquake rating are a bit sort of uncomfortable," he says.
Mr Bradley says Rangitane is happy for the competition for most earthquakes to be won by Ngāi Tahu.
In Wellington the earthquake was felt as a single jolt, but in Blenheim there was an initial quake, a second strong jolt and a third smaller shake all within about 20 seconds.
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