Which 2016 earthquake severely damaged Kaikōura and affected New Zealand’s South Island?

The 2016 earthquake that severely damaged Kaikōura and affected New Zealand’s South Island was the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.

It struck on 14 November 2016 at 12:02 a.m. local time, with a moment magnitude of 7.8. The rupture propagated across multiple faults in the northeastern South Island, making it one of the most complex earthquake ruptures studied in detail.

The earthquake produced dramatic surface deformation, landslides, coastal uplift and a local tsunami. Some sections of coastline rose by several metres, while landslides blocked roads and rail lines. Two people died, and infrastructure damage was extensive.

The earthquake demonstrated that several connected faults can rupture during one event rather than behaving as completely isolated structures. It is not the same event as the 2010 Darfield or 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.