A devastating earthquake struck Napier, Hastings and other towns throughout Hawkes Bay at 1047 on 3 February 1931. In Napier, fires burned for days and completed much of the destruction that had followed the first shocks. 250 citizens died.
HMS VERONICA was alongside the Ahuriri Basin, and she temporarily went aground when the shock raised the seabed. Within 10 minutes VERONICA's sailors were helping with rescue work. VERONICA signalled the New Zealand Squadron. HMNZ Ships DIOMEDE and DUNEDIN embarked doctors, nurses, medical stores and several journalists, and steamed for Napier at 25 knots, arriving at 0800 on the 4th.
Naval parties provided guards, patrols, demolition and search parties, fire-fighters and traffic control; they supervised food distribution, guarded banks' bullion, and assisted hospital nurses. Ships' wireless operators transmitted journalists' copy around New Zealand. At Nelson Park the Navy cared for some 4000 refugees and organised a well-controlled camp. By 10 February their work was done.
DIOMEDE escorted the damaged VERONICA to Auckland and the following day DUNEDIN departed.
The museum has a collection of oral histories relating to the Hawkes Bay/Napier Earthquake.