[1] In Wellington, the shaking lasted for about two minutes and caused widespread damage, especially to brick or stone structures.

In the North Island, the displacement is mainly taken up along the Kermadec subduction zone, although the remaining dextral strike-slip component of the relative plate motion is accommodated by the North Island Fault System (NIFS).

[3] A group of dextral strike-slip structures, known as the Marlborough fault system, transfer displacement between the mainly transform and convergent type plate boundaries in a complex zone at the northern end of South Island.

[5] A horizontal displacement of about 6 metres was accompanied by smaller vertical movements of varying sense.

[5][7] In Wellington, almost all buildings of brick or stone construction were damaged, including homes, churches, the jail, and the Colonial Hospital.