Extraordinary tidal waves and destruction in the Chatham Islands

On the morning of August 15, 1868, the Chatham Islands were struck by three devastating earthquake-generated tidal waves, following an unusually low tide that had left typically submerged rocks exposed. The first wave, arriving around 1:00 a.m. with a thunderous noise, served as a vital warning, allowing many to flee. At the settlement of Tupuangi (also spelled Tupanga), the impact was absolute; the village was completely destroyed, leaving nothing but sand and seaweed where homes once stood. The inhabitants, primarily Māori, escaped into the bush or to higher ground just before a second, more powerful wave arrived, followed by a third that swept away their remaining property and destroyed their pa. Nearby, Captain Anderson’s house was demolished, though his family narrowly escaped. At Terake, Mr. Thomas Osborne Hay and his companion, Mr. Amery, were awakened by the first wave and fled with only the clothes they had on; moments later, their mansion—including a massive stone chimney—was reduced to ruins by a vast breaker. The men later trekked shoeless to Waitangi, finding others similarly displaced. At Waitangi, government stores, fences, and Mr. Beamish’s accommodation house were destroyed. The disaster also claimed the life of a Māori man named Makare, who drowned at Teraikopakipa Point while attempting to save Captain Anderson’s boat. Many Maoris, fearing a total deluge, sought refuge on Maunganui, the island’s highest point, approximately 700 feet above sea level.