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A Maori astronomer says the Maori of old would have seen a connection between the super moon and last night’s earthquake.
The moon will be at its closest to the earth tonight for 70 years, and it’s creating higher than normal tides and uncertain currents.
Rangi Mataamua says the ancestors had an intimate knowledge of the phases of the moon and stars, and built activities like gardening around them.
He says last night’s moon would have risen just before the earthquake struck.
"Rona whakamau-tai, the controller of the tides, draws water to the surface because of her position. I expect the high tides in the next few days will be king tides and that will affect the currents in the rivers and estuaries and on-shore area, and I'm not surprised there has been an earthquake due to the position of the moon," Dr Mataamua says.
Tonight would be great for planting because water is drawn to the surface.
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