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Survivor Stories
Short Film (Full Length) – 1998
The 1931 Napier Earthquake was one of the most devastating natural disasters in Aotearoa New Zealand's history, with 256 deaths and a city left in ruins. In this talking heads documentary made for MTG Hawke's Bay, five survivors — children and teenagers at the time — give firsthand accounts of the monumental day and its aftermath. Director/producer Gaylene Preston includes rousing sound design amongst the interviews, giving a sense of how an earthquake of that magnitude would sound. Preston would later expand upon the topic of the Napier quake in her Qantas-nominated doco Earthquake!
Our elders, when they came back that night, they had a kōrero on the marae for everybody to come. Come out of your homes and come and stay on the marae, which they did. The starting bringing their beds and their blankets and things.– Napier local Hana Cotter
Key Cast & Crew
See all 13 credits
Source
Acknowledgements
Produced for The Hawkes Bay Cultural Trust
Featured interviews: Hana Cotter, Audrey McKelvie (née Hurst), Jim Clayton and Lauris Edmond
Categories
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